CVE-2025-27896 in DB2 Recovery Expert
Summary
by MITRE • 10/12/2026
IBM Db2 Recovery Expert for Linux, UNIX and Windows 5.5 IF 2 is vulnerable to cross-site scripting. This vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker to embed arbitrary JavaScript code in the Web UI thus altering the intended functionality potentially leading to credentials disclosure within a trusted session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2026
The identified security flaw resides within IBM Db2 Recovery Expert for Linux, UNIX and Windows version 5.5 Interactive Fix Pack 2, specifically targeting its web-based user interface components. This vulnerability is classified as an injection weakness where the application fails to adequately sanitize or validate user-supplied input before processing it in a dynamic context. The core technical issue stems from insufficient neutralization of special characters that have special meaning within HTML and JavaScript environments. When an attacker crafts malicious payloads containing executable script code, such as JavaScript snippets utilizing event handlers like onerror or onload, the application inadvertently incorporates these strings directly into the rendered page content without proper encoding or escaping mechanisms. This lack of input validation allows the browser to interpret the injected data not merely as static text but as active executable code within the context of the trusted web domain hosting the Db2 Recovery Expert interface.
From an operational perspective, this cross-site scripting vulnerability enables unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the browsers of users who visit the compromised pages or interact with specific UI elements that reflect input back into the document object model without sanitization. The primary impact involves the alteration of intended functionality and the potential for significant data exposure. By injecting malicious JavaScript, an attacker can manipulate the DOM to steal sensitive information stored within trusted sessions, such as authentication cookies, session tokens, or credentials entered by legitimate users. This capability effectively allows the attacker to hijack active user sessions, bypassing access controls that rely on client-side state management. The ability to execute scripts also permits phishing attacks where fake login forms can be injected into the interface to capture additional credential sets, further compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the database recovery environment managed by this software.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-79, which describes Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation commonly known as Cross-site Scripting. The attack vector is categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059, specifically sub-technique 007 for JavaScript execution within a browser environment. Furthermore, the exploitation method relates to CWE-613 regarding Insufficient Session Expiration and CWE-284 concerning Improper Access Control if session hijacking leads to unauthorized administrative actions. The risk is exacerbated by the fact that no authentication is required to trigger or view the vulnerable endpoints, making it accessible to any remote actor with network connectivity to the service.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. IBM has released Interactive Fix Pack 2 which addresses this specific vulnerability through code patches that implement strict input validation and output encoding routines within the web interface components. Administrators should apply this fix pack immediately to all affected instances. In addition to applying vendor-supplied updates, defense-in-depth measures are recommended. Implementing a Content Security Policy header can restrict the sources from which scripts are allowed to execute, thereby mitigating the impact of any successfully injected payloads even if input validation is bypassed. Additionally, enabling HttpOnly flags on session cookies prevents client-side JavaScript from accessing them, reducing the risk of credential theft via this specific vector. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar injection points in other web-facing applications within the infrastructure.