CVE-2025-27897 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.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2026
The IBM Db2 Recovery Expert for Linux, UNIX and Windows version 5.5 Interim Fix 2 contains a critical web application security flaw classified as cross-site scripting or XSS. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the software's web-based user interface components. When users interact with specific fields that accept untrusted data, such as search queries, profile inputs, or error message displays, the system fails to properly encode special characters before rendering them in the browser context. Consequently, an attacker can inject malicious scripts into these input vectors which are then executed by the victim's web browser when they view the affected page. This behavior aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation where user-controllable data is not validated or escaped before being placed in output used as a web page.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant because it allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of the trusted application domain. Since the scripts run with the same privileges as legitimate application pages, they can access cookies, local storage, and session tokens associated with authenticated users currently logged into the system. This capability enables credential disclosure where attackers can steal sensitive authentication data such as session IDs or passwords stored in browser memory. Furthermore, the attacker may alter the intended functionality of the web interface by manipulating DOM elements, redirecting users to phishing sites that mimic legitimate login pages, or performing actions on behalf of the victim without their knowledge. This scenario corresponds directly to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and script interpretation through browser-based execution contexts.
To mitigate this risk, immediate remediation should focus on applying the vendor-provided patches available in subsequent interim fixes that address these input validation gaps. In addition to software updates, administrators must implement strict output encoding strategies ensuring all user-supplied data is contextually encoded before being rendered by the web server or client-side scripts. Implementing a Content Security Policy header can further restrict the execution of unauthorized inline scripts and limit the damage potential even if an injection occurs. Regular security audits using static application security testing tools combined with dynamic analysis during penetration tests will help identify similar weaknesses in other parts of the interface. Maintaining up-to-date software versions and enforcing strong session management policies including short-lived tokens and secure cookie attributes are essential defensive measures against exploitation of this vulnerability type.