CVE-2025-33103 in IBM
Summary
by MITRE • 05/17/2025
IBM i 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, and 7.6 product IBM TCP/IP Connectivity Utilities for i contains a privilege escalation vulnerability. A malicious actor with command line access to the host operating system can elevate privileges to gain root access to the host operating system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/18/2025
This vulnerability resides within IBM i operating systems version 7.2 through 7.6, specifically affecting the TCP/IP Connectivity Utilities component. The flaw represents a critical privilege escalation weakness that allows local attackers with command line access to escalate their privileges to the root level. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and privilege management within the TCP/IP utilities framework, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass normal security boundaries and gain administrative control over the entire system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper privilege management in software systems. Attackers exploiting this weakness can leverage their existing command line access to manipulate system processes and elevate their privileges through flawed authorization mechanisms. The TCP/IP Connectivity Utilities likely contain components that interface directly with system-level resources, creating opportunities for privilege escalation when proper access controls are not enforced. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers the exploitation of legitimate credentials and system access to escalate privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with complete system control once they establish initial access. Root access enables full system compromise including data exfiltration, system modification, installation of persistent backdoors, and complete disruption of business operations. Organizations running IBM i systems in production environments face significant risk as this vulnerability can be exploited by both internal and external threat actors who gain any level of command line access. The impact extends beyond immediate system compromise to include potential cascading effects across networked systems that may trust the compromised IBM i environment.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected IBM i versions and implementation of strict access controls. Organizations must ensure that command line access is restricted to authorized personnel only through proper authentication and authorization mechanisms. Network segmentation and monitoring of command line activities can help detect suspicious privilege escalation attempts. System administrators should implement the principle of least privilege and regularly audit access controls to prevent unauthorized access to system utilities. Additionally, organizations should maintain current IBM i patches and security updates to protect against known vulnerabilities, as this specific vulnerability likely represents a known issue that IBM has addressed through security bulletins and system updates.