CVE-2026-80425 Overview
CVE-2026-80425 is an OS command injection vulnerability [CWE-78] in IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements passed to an operating system command. A remote authenticated attacker can exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying host. Successful exploitation compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected DataStage deployment.
Critical Impact
An authenticated remote attacker can execute arbitrary OS commands on the DataStage host, leading to full compromise of the data integration environment and any credentials or datasets it processes.
Affected Products
- IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0
- IBM Cloud Pak for Data (deployments hosting the affected DataStage version)
- Downstream data pipelines and integrations processed by the affected DataStage instance
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-09-23 - CVE-2026-80425 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-09-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-80425
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a classic OS command injection weakness classified under [CWE-78]. IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 accepts user-supplied input that is later incorporated into an operating system command without adequate sanitization or neutralization of shell metacharacters. Because the injected input is executed by the underlying shell, an attacker gains the same execution context as the DataStage service account.
Exploitation requires network access to the DataStage interface and valid authentication with low privileges. No user interaction is needed to trigger the vulnerable code path. The scope remains unchanged, but the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high because the attacker obtains arbitrary command execution on the host.
See the IBM Support Page for the vendor's technical description.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient input validation on parameters that are concatenated into a shell command. Metacharacters such as ;, |, &&, backticks, and $() are not filtered or escaped before the command string is executed by the OS interpreter.
Attack Vector
An authenticated attacker submits crafted input through a DataStage API endpoint or UI field that reaches the vulnerable command construction routine. The injected payload breaks out of the intended argument context and appends attacker-controlled commands. Those commands execute with the privileges of the DataStage runtime user, enabling data exfiltration, lateral movement inside the Cloud Pak for Data cluster, or persistence.
No verified proof-of-concept code has been published. Refer to the IBM Support Page for authoritative details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-80425
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected child processes spawned by DataStage service accounts, especially shells such as sh, bash, or utilities like curl, wget, and nc.
- Outbound network connections from DataStage pods or nodes to unfamiliar external hosts.
- Anomalous entries in DataStage application logs containing shell metacharacters (;, |, `, $() in request parameters.
Detection Strategies
- Enable process-lineage telemetry on Cloud Pak for Data worker nodes and alert on DataStage processes launching interpreters or reconnaissance binaries.
- Inspect authenticated API traffic to DataStage endpoints for payloads containing command-injection patterns.
- Correlate authentication events with subsequent host-level process execution to surface abuse of low-privilege accounts.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward DataStage, Kubernetes audit, and container runtime logs to a centralized analytics platform for retention and correlation.
- Baseline normal DataStage process behavior and alert on deviations such as new outbound connections or file writes to /tmp and user home directories.
- Monitor Cloud Pak for Data service account activity for privilege changes or credential access following suspicious API calls.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-80425
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the fix referenced in the IBM Support Page for IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0.
- Restrict network access to the DataStage interface so only trusted management networks can reach it.
- Review and rotate credentials for any DataStage user accounts, especially those with pipeline authoring permissions.
Patch Information
IBM has published remediation guidance on its support portal. Administrators should follow the upgrade or interim fix instructions in the IBM Support Page and validate the DataStage build number after patching.
Workarounds
- Reduce the number of authenticated users with access to DataStage until the patch is applied.
- Enforce strict role-based access control (RBAC) inside Cloud Pak for Data to limit who can invoke DataStage APIs that construct OS commands.
- Deploy a web application firewall or API gateway rule to block requests containing shell metacharacters in DataStage parameters.
# Example: verify installed DataStage version on Cloud Pak for Data
oc get csv -n cpd | grep datastage
oc describe pod -l app=datastage -n cpd | grep -i image:
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.