CVE-2025-36422: IBM InfoSphere Information Server CSRF

CVE-2025-36422 Overview

CVE-2025-36422 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability affecting IBM InfoSphere Information Server versions 11.7.0.0 through 11.7.1.6. Specifically, the IBM InfoSphere DataStage Flow Designer component is vulnerable to CSRF attacks, which could allow an attacker to execute malicious and unauthorized actions transmitted from a user that the website trusts.

Critical Impact
Attackers can trick authenticated users into performing unintended actions on the DataStage Flow Designer, potentially leading to unauthorized modifications to data integration workflows and ETL processes.

Affected Products

IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7.0.0 through 11.7.1.6
IBM AIX (all supported versions running affected InfoSphere versions)
Linux systems running affected InfoSphere versions
Microsoft Windows systems running affected InfoSphere versions

Discovery Timeline

2026-03-25 - CVE-2025-36422 published to NVD
2026-03-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-36422

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-352 (Cross-Site Request Forgery). CSRF vulnerabilities occur when a web application fails to properly validate that requests originate from the authenticated user's intentional actions rather than from a malicious third-party site.

In the context of IBM InfoSphere DataStage Flow Designer, the application does not adequately verify the origin of HTTP requests. This allows an attacker to craft malicious web pages or links that, when visited by an authenticated user, will cause the victim's browser to submit unauthorized requests to the DataStage Flow Designer on behalf of the attacker.

The vulnerability has a network-based attack vector, requiring user interaction (such as clicking a malicious link) to be exploited. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized modifications to the system's integrity, though it does not directly impact data confidentiality or system availability.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-36422 lies in insufficient anti-CSRF protections within the IBM InfoSphere DataStage Flow Designer component. The application fails to implement proper CSRF tokens or other request validation mechanisms that would ensure state-changing requests originate from legitimate user sessions rather than malicious cross-origin requests.

Attack Vector

The attack requires an authenticated user to interact with attacker-controlled content while maintaining an active session with the DataStage Flow Designer. An attacker would typically:

Craft a malicious webpage containing hidden forms or JavaScript that submits requests to the vulnerable DataStage Flow Designer endpoints
Distribute the malicious page via phishing emails, compromised websites, or social engineering
When a victim with an active DataStage Flow Designer session visits the malicious page, their browser automatically sends the forged requests along with valid session credentials
The DataStage Flow Designer processes these requests as if they were legitimate user actions

Since no verified code examples are available, the vulnerability mechanism can be described as follows: The attacker constructs HTTP requests targeting administrative or workflow modification endpoints within the DataStage Flow Designer. These requests are embedded in malicious HTML content and automatically submitted by the victim's browser, bypassing the need for proper authentication since the browser includes valid session cookies with each request.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-36422

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected modifications to DataStage workflows or data integration jobs that users don't recall making
Audit logs showing administrative actions occurring from unusual referrer URLs or at unexpected times
Multiple state-changing requests originating from the same user session in rapid succession
HTTP requests to DataStage Flow Designer endpoints with missing or mismatched origin headers

Detection Strategies

Monitor HTTP request logs for state-changing operations with suspicious or external referrer headers
Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block cross-origin requests to sensitive endpoints
Enable detailed audit logging within IBM InfoSphere Information Server to track all administrative actions
Review user session activity for anomalous patterns indicating automated or scripted requests

Monitoring Recommendations

Configure alerting for bulk modifications to DataStage flows or configurations
Implement user behavior analytics to identify unusual administrative activity patterns
Monitor network traffic for requests to DataStage Flow Designer from untrusted origins
Enable IBM InfoSphere Information Server's built-in audit capabilities and regularly review logs

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-36422

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the security patch from IBM as soon as possible by following the IBM Security Advisory
Restrict access to the DataStage Flow Designer to trusted internal networks only
Implement additional network-level access controls such as VPN requirements for administrative access
Educate users about the risks of clicking untrusted links while authenticated to sensitive systems

Patch Information

IBM has released a security advisory addressing this vulnerability. Administrators should consult the IBM Security Advisory for detailed patch instructions and download links. The patch addresses the CSRF vulnerability by implementing proper request validation mechanisms within the DataStage Flow Designer component.

Organizations running IBM InfoSphere Information Server versions 11.7.0.0 through 11.7.1.6 should prioritize applying this patch, particularly in environments where the DataStage Flow Designer is accessible from networks that may be exposed to untrusted traffic.

Workarounds

Restrict network access to the DataStage Flow Designer interface to trusted IP ranges only
Implement a reverse proxy with CSRF protection capabilities in front of the DataStage Flow Designer
Require users to log out of DataStage Flow Designer sessions before browsing other websites
Consider disabling the DataStage Flow Designer web interface temporarily if not critical for operations

bash

# Example: Restrict access to DataStage Flow Designer using iptables (Linux)
# Allow only trusted internal network (adjust IP range as needed)
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 9443 -s 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 9443 -j DROP