CVE-2025-36245 Overview
CVE-2025-36245 is a command injection vulnerability in IBM InfoSphere Information Server versions 11.7.0.0 through 11.7.1.6. The flaw stems from improper validation of user-supplied input [CWE-78], allowing an authenticated user to execute arbitrary operating system commands with elevated privileges. Exploitation requires network access and low-privilege credentials but no user interaction. A successful attack compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the underlying host. IBM has published guidance through its support portal addressing the affected versions.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary OS commands with elevated privileges, leading to full compromise of the InfoSphere Information Server host.
Affected Products
- IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7.0.0
- IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7.1.x through 11.7.1.6
- Deployments exposing the Information Server web and service interfaces to authenticated users
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-09-29 - CVE-2025-36245 published to NVD
- 2025-10-18 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-36245
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is an OS command injection issue [CWE-78] in IBM InfoSphere Information Server. The product fails to sanitize user-supplied input before passing it to a system command interpreter. An authenticated user with low privileges can inject shell metacharacters or additional commands into a parameter consumed by a server-side operation. The injected commands run in the context of the Information Server process, which typically operates with elevated privileges on the host. This allows the attacker to read sensitive data, modify configuration, deploy persistence, or pivot into adjacent systems within the data integration environment. The attack is delivered over the network and does not require user interaction beyond the initial authentication.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient input validation on parameters that are later concatenated into operating system commands. Without strict allow-list validation or safe argument passing, attacker-controlled characters such as ;, |, &, backticks, or $() are interpreted by the shell rather than treated as literal data.
Attack Vector
An attacker authenticates to InfoSphere Information Server using any valid low-privilege account. The attacker then submits a crafted request containing shell metacharacters in an affected parameter. The server passes the input to a system command without sanitization, executing the attacker's payload under the Information Server service account. Refer to the IBM Support Page for the affected components and patched versions.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-36245
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected child processes (for example /bin/sh, bash, cmd.exe, powershell.exe) spawned by the IBM InfoSphere Information Server service account or WebSphere application server process.
- Outbound network connections from the InfoSphere host to unknown or non-corporate destinations following authenticated user activity.
- New or modified files in InfoSphere working directories, scheduled tasks, or cron entries created by the service account.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor process creation telemetry for InfoSphere parent processes spawning shells or interpreters with command lines containing metacharacters such as ;, |, &&, or $().
- Correlate authenticated InfoSphere web requests containing suspicious parameter values with subsequent process or file system activity on the host.
- Review InfoSphere audit logs and web server access logs for anomalous parameter content from low-privilege accounts.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose application and authentication logging on Information Server and forward logs to a centralized analytics platform for retention and correlation.
- Alert on any execution of administrative utilities (net, whoami, id, curl, wget) by the InfoSphere service account.
- Track changes to InfoSphere user accounts and privilege assignments to identify accounts being abused for exploitation.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-36245
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the fixes referenced in the IBM Support Page to all InfoSphere Information Server deployments running 11.7.0.0 through 11.7.1.6.
- Audit InfoSphere user accounts and remove or disable unused credentials to reduce the authenticated attack surface.
- Rotate credentials and review service account permissions to ensure least privilege on the Information Server host.
Patch Information
IBM has published remediation guidance for affected versions of InfoSphere Information Server. Administrators should consult the IBM Support Page for the specific fix pack or interim fix applicable to their version and apply it through the standard IBM update process.
Workarounds
- Restrict network access to InfoSphere Information Server interfaces to trusted administrative networks until patches are applied.
- Enforce strong authentication and multi-factor authentication on all InfoSphere accounts to limit exposure to credentialed attackers.
- Monitor and rate-limit administrative endpoints, and disable interactive accounts that are not required for daily operations.
# Example: restrict access to InfoSphere Information Server ports
# using iptables to allow only the admin subnet (replace 10.0.0.0/24)
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 9443 -s 10.0.0.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 9443 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
