CVE-2025-2950 in IBM
Summary
by MITRE • 04/18/2025
IBM i 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, and 7.5 is vulnerable to a host header injection attack caused by improper neutralization of HTTP header content by IBM Navigator for i. An authenticated user can manipulate the host header in HTTP requests to change domain/IP address which may lead to unexpected behavior.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-2950 affects IBM i operating systems version 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, and specifically impacts IBM Navigator for i web interface components. This security flaw represents a critical host header injection vulnerability that stems from inadequate sanitization of HTTP header content within the web application framework. The issue allows authenticated users to manipulate HTTP host headers in requests, potentially enabling them to redirect or modify domain or IP address information that the application processes. Such manipulation can result in unpredictable application behavior and may enable attackers to exploit the system in ways that bypass normal security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the improper neutralization of input data within the IBM Navigator for i web interface. When HTTP requests are processed, the application fails to adequately sanitize or validate the host header field, allowing maliciously crafted header values to be interpreted by the application logic. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers to inject arbitrary host information that can influence how the application handles subsequent requests or redirects. The vulnerability specifically affects the web-based management interface of IBM i systems, which is commonly used for administrative tasks and system monitoring.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to IBM i system security and integrity. An authenticated attacker with access to the IBM Navigator for i interface can leverage this flaw to manipulate the host header information in HTTP requests, potentially enabling them to perform unauthorized actions or gain additional system access. The impact extends beyond simple request manipulation as it may allow for session hijacking, cross-site request forgery attacks, or redirection to malicious domains. This vulnerability undermines the trust model of the web interface and can compromise the confidentiality and integrity of system administration activities.
The security implications of CVE-2025-2950 align with CWE-20, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in HTTP headers. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically the use of malicious web content to manipulate host headers. Organizations running affected IBM i systems should immediately implement mitigations including input validation controls, web application firewalls, and access restriction measures. IBM has likely released patches or interim fixes for this vulnerability, which should be deployed as a priority. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of HTTP traffic can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of management interfaces. Organizations should conduct thorough assessments of their IBM i environments to identify any other potential host header injection vulnerabilities and ensure that all web-based administrative tools properly validate and sanitize user-supplied header information.