CVE-2025-36144 in Lakehouse
Summary
by MITRE • 09/27/2025
IBM Lakehouse (watsonx.data 2.2) stores potentially sensitive information in log files that could be read by a local user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2025
IBM Lakehouse running watsonx.data version 2.2 contains a vulnerability where sensitive information is inadvertently stored in log files, creating a potential security risk for local users who may have access to these files. This flaw represents a failure in proper information sanitization and access control mechanisms within the logging infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from inadequate data handling practices where authentication tokens, session identifiers, or other sensitive data elements are written to log files without proper redaction or access restrictions. According to CWE-532, this falls under the category of information exposure through log files, which is a well-documented weakness in software security practices. The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as local users with read access to log directories could potentially extract confidential information that may include API keys, database credentials, or other authentication tokens that could be leveraged for unauthorized access to the system or associated services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the logging subsystem failing to properly filter or sanitize sensitive data before writing it to persistent storage. This typically occurs when developers assume that log files are only accessible to authorized personnel without implementing proper access controls or data sanitization procedures. The flaw may manifest in various forms including direct inclusion of user input, configuration values, or system credentials in log output without proper obfuscation techniques. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1562.001 which covers "T1562.001 - Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools" and T1070.004 which addresses "T1070.004 - Indicator Removal on Host: File Deletion" as attackers may exploit such exposures to gather intelligence about system configurations or credentials. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-tenant environments where local user access controls may be insufficient to prevent unauthorized data extraction.
Organizations implementing IBM Lakehouse with watsonx.data 2.2 should immediately assess their current logging configurations and implement comprehensive data sanitization policies. The recommended mitigations include implementing log file access controls that restrict read permissions to authorized personnel only, deploying automated log sanitization processes that redact sensitive information before writing to logs, and establishing regular audit procedures to monitor for potential exposure of confidential data. Security teams should also consider implementing centralized logging solutions with proper access controls and encryption mechanisms to prevent local users from directly accessing log files. According to NIST SP 800-171 guidelines for protecting controlled unclassified information, organizations must implement proper data handling procedures including log file management and access controls. The vulnerability requires immediate attention as it represents a fundamental breach in the principle of least privilege and proper information classification practices. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect unusual access patterns to log files and alert security teams to potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system architecture that may be subject to similar exposure risks.