CVE-2025-36367 in IBM
Summary
by MITRE • 11/01/2025
IBM i 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, and 7.2 is vulnerable to privilege escalation caused by an invalid IBM i SQL services authorization check. A malicious actor can use the elevated privileges of another user profile to gain root access to the host operating system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2025
This vulnerability resides within IBM i operating systems across multiple versions including 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, 7.3, and 7.2, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw that directly impacts system security posture. The core issue stems from an invalid authorization check within IBM i SQL services, where the system fails to properly validate user permissions when executing certain database operations. This authorization bypass allows malicious actors to exploit existing user profiles with elevated privileges to escalate their access level to the root operating system account. The vulnerability specifically affects the SQL services component of IBM i, which serves as a critical interface for database operations and system integration. The flaw essentially creates a pathway for unauthorized privilege elevation where an attacker can leverage legitimate system access to gain complete administrative control over the underlying operating system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control mechanisms, and represents a significant deviation from proper authorization enforcement within the IBM i environment. When an authenticated user profile with certain privileges attempts SQL operations, the system incorrectly grants access to system-level resources that should be restricted to root-level accounts only. This misconfiguration allows for the exploitation of legitimate system functions to achieve unauthorized system-level access, creating a dangerous escalation path that bypasses normal security boundaries. The SQL services component in IBM i typically handles database connectivity and query execution, but in this case, it fails to enforce proper privilege boundaries during critical operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe risk for organizations relying on IBM i systems, as it enables attackers to achieve complete system compromise from a relatively low-privilege position. The ability to gain root access through a SQL services authorization check means that even if an attacker initially gains access through a standard user account or limited administrative profile, they can escalate to full system control. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through legitimate system interfaces, making detection more challenging and potentially allowing attackers to maintain persistent access. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as root access provides complete control over system configurations, file systems, network settings, and all user accounts, effectively rendering the entire system compromised.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant IBM security patches and updates to address the authorization check flaw in SQL services. System administrators should also review and tighten SQL service access controls, ensuring that only authorized profiles have access to sensitive system operations. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual SQL service activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper authorization enforcement in database interfaces and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers privilege escalation through legitimate credentials. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their IBM i environments to identify any additional authorization gaps and implement principle of least privilege configurations to minimize the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities. Regular security auditing of system access controls and database service configurations should be prioritized to prevent similar authorization bypass scenarios.