CVE-2025-36258 in InfoSphere Information Server
Summary
by MITRE • 03/25/2026
IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7.0.0 through 11.7.1.6 product stores user credentials and other sensitive information in plain text which can be read by a local user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2026
IBM InfoSphere Information Server version 11.7.0.0 through 11.7.1.6 contains a critical security flaw that violates fundamental information security principles by storing user credentials and sensitive data in plain text format. This vulnerability represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor secure coding practices that expose organizational data to unnecessary risk. The flaw allows any local user with access to the system to read stored credentials without authentication, creating a severe attack surface that can be exploited by both malicious insiders and external threat actors who gain local access through other means.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper data handling within the application's credential storage mechanisms. When user authentication information and sensitive data are persisted in plain text, they become immediately accessible to any process running with sufficient privileges to read the relevant files or memory segments. This flaw aligns with CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper data handling, and represents a classic case of insecure data storage that violates industry standards for secure application development. The vulnerability exists at the application level rather than being a system-level flaw, making it particularly concerning as it affects the core functionality of authentication and access control within the information server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple credential theft, as it compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the entire information server environment. Local users with read access can extract not only authentication tokens but potentially sensitive business data, configuration information, and access credentials for downstream systems. This creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on InfoSphere Information Server for data integration and management, as the exposure of credentials could lead to unauthorized access to databases, applications, and other enterprise resources. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including privilege escalation, lateral movement, and data exfiltration, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users have local access to server systems. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1552.001 (Unsecured Credentials) and T1078.004 (Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts) when credentials are used to access cloud-based systems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including restricting local access to the server, implementing additional access controls, and conducting thorough audits of credential storage practices. The recommended approach involves applying the vendor-provided security patches as soon as they become available, while also implementing network segmentation to limit local access privileges. System administrators should also consider implementing file integrity monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to credential files. Additional mitigations include enabling strong access controls through operating system level restrictions, implementing regular credential rotation policies, and conducting comprehensive security assessments to identify other potential insecure data storage practices within the organization's technology stack. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding guidelines and conducting regular security reviews to prevent similar issues from occurring in other applications and systems within the enterprise infrastructure.