CVE-2025-36133 in App Connect Enterprise Certified Container
Summary
by MITRE • 09/01/2025
IBM App Connect Enterprise Certified Container CD: 9.2.0 through 11.6.0, 12.1.0 through 12.14.0, and 12.0 LTS: 12.0.0 through 12.0.14stores potentially sensitive information in log files during installation that could be read by a local user on the container.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2025
IBM App Connect Enterprise Certified Container versions 9.2.0 through 11.6.0, 12.1.0 through 12.14.0, and 12.0 LTS versions 12.0.0 through 12.0.14 contain a vulnerability that exposes sensitive data in log files during the installation process. This flaw represents a critical security oversight where the system inadvertently writes confidential information to log files that can be accessed by local users with read permissions. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category for exposure of sensitive information, specifically in log files where the system should maintain strict confidentiality of installation data. During the container installation process, the application stores potentially sensitive information in log files that are accessible to any local user who can read the container's file system. This creates a significant risk for environments where multiple users share the same host system or where privilege escalation attacks are possible. The exposure of sensitive information in log files can include authentication credentials, configuration parameters, system identifiers, or other data that could be leveraged by attackers to gain unauthorized access to the system or compromise the integrity of the application. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges or conduct further reconnaissance against the containerized environment. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005 for data from local system and T1070 for indicator removal through log file manipulation, as the sensitive data exposure can be used for both initial access and persistence. The issue affects a wide range of IBM App Connect Enterprise versions and represents a fundamental flaw in the container's logging mechanism where sensitive data is not properly sanitized or filtered before being written to persistent storage. Organizations running these container versions should immediately implement mitigations to prevent unauthorized local access to log files and ensure that sensitive information is not stored in plain text within installation logs.
The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization during the installation process where the container runtime does not properly filter or redact sensitive information before logging it to persistent storage. This type of flaw commonly occurs in containerized environments where the logging infrastructure is not properly configured to handle sensitive data or where developers assume that log files are adequately protected from unauthorized access. The affected versions span multiple major releases, indicating that this is a systemic issue rather than a one-time coding error that was subsequently fixed. The security implications are particularly severe because container environments often run with elevated privileges and may be subject to insider threats or compromised user accounts. When local users can read installation log files, they gain access to potentially sensitive configuration data that could reveal network topology, system architecture, or other operational details that are not intended for public consumption. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can be exploited in combination with other attack vectors to achieve more significant compromises. The exposure of sensitive information in log files represents a classic case of insecure logging practices that violates fundamental security principles. Organizations should consider implementing mandatory access controls on log directories and ensuring that log files are properly secured with appropriate file permissions to prevent unauthorized access. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure configuration management in containerized environments where default installations may expose more information than necessary. This issue can be particularly problematic in regulated environments where data protection requirements mandate strict controls over sensitive information handling and logging practices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate protective measures and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should immediately review and restrict access permissions on log file directories to prevent unauthorized local users from reading installation logs. The system configuration should be updated to ensure that sensitive information is not stored in plain text within log files, and that log sanitization processes are implemented to filter out confidential data before it is written to persistent storage. Security administrators should implement regular log file audits to detect any instances where sensitive information might still be present in the installation logs. The use of centralized logging solutions with proper access controls can help mitigate the risk by ensuring that sensitive data is not stored locally in easily accessible formats. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing automated monitoring and alerting for unusual access patterns to log files that might indicate unauthorized attempts to access sensitive information. The remediation process should include updating to the latest available patches from IBM that address this specific logging vulnerability. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their containerized environments to identify other potential information disclosure vulnerabilities. The implementation of proper log management practices, including log rotation, encryption of sensitive data in logs, and regular security reviews of logging configurations, should be part of the overall security posture improvement. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper security configuration in containerized applications, particularly in enterprise environments where sensitive data processing is common. The issue requires careful attention to logging security and should be addressed as part of broader security hardening efforts for containerized applications.