CVE-2026-1265 in InfoSphere Information Server
Summary
by MITRE • 03/03/2026
IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7.0.0 through 11.7.1.6 is vulnerable to writing of sensitive Information in a log file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2026
IBM InfoSphere Information Server version 11.7.0.0 through 11.7.1.6 contains a vulnerability that allows sensitive information to be written to log files, creating potential exposure of confidential data. This issue represents a critical security flaw that violates fundamental data protection principles and can lead to unauthorized information disclosure. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the logging subsystem, which fails to properly filter or redact sensitive data before writing it to persistent storage. This weakness is classified as a CWE-209 vulnerability, specifically related to the exposure of sensitive information through error handling mechanisms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1567.002 for exfiltration of data through log files. The affected system components include the log processing modules and the information server's audit trail functionality, which are designed to record system activities and user interactions. When sensitive data such as passwords, encryption keys, personal identification numbers, or proprietary business information is inadvertently logged, it creates a significant risk for attackers who gain access to the system's file system or log directories. The operational impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable credential theft, intellectual property compromise, and compliance violations under data protection regulations such as gdpr and hipaa. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by monitoring log files or gaining direct system access to extract the sensitive information that has been inadvertently written to these files, making the attack surface significantly larger than initially anticipated.
The vulnerability exists due to inadequate data sanitization practices within the logging framework of the information server, where the system does not properly distinguish between benign operational data and sensitive information that should never be persisted in log files. This flaw is particularly concerning because logging is a fundamental system function that is enabled by default and typically maintained for extended periods, creating a long-term exposure window for sensitive data. The affected versions of IBM InfoSphere Information Server do not implement proper data masking or filtering mechanisms during the logging process, allowing any data that passes through the system to potentially be written to log files without proper sanitization. This issue is exacerbated by the fact that the logging infrastructure may capture data from various system components including user authentication tokens, database connection strings, API keys, and other confidential information that flows through the server's processing pipelines. The vulnerability can be exploited by both internal and external threat actors who gain access to the system's file system, network shares, or administrative interfaces that provide access to log file repositories. The attack vector typically involves either direct file system access or exploitation of other vulnerabilities that allow privilege escalation to file system access, followed by enumeration and extraction of sensitive data from log files.
Organizations using IBM InfoSphere Information Server within the affected version range face significant operational risks that extend beyond immediate data exposure. The vulnerability creates compliance risks under various regulatory frameworks, including but not limited to the general data protection regulation, health insurance portability and accountability act, and soc 2 standards, where organizations are required to implement proper data protection measures. The potential impact includes unauthorized access to sensitive business data, customer information, and proprietary intellectual property that may have been inadvertently logged during normal system operations. Recovery from such an incident requires extensive forensic analysis, log file cleanup, and potential system reconfiguration to prevent future occurrences. The remediation process involves implementing proper input validation, output sanitization, and data masking procedures within the logging subsystem, as well as establishing comprehensive monitoring and alerting mechanisms for log file access and content changes. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including log file access controls, regular log file audits, and enhanced monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper security testing and code review processes, particularly for logging and audit functionality, which are often overlooked during security assessments. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing centralized log management solutions with built-in data sanitization capabilities to reduce the risk of sensitive data exposure in distributed systems. The incident response plan should include specific procedures for identifying and removing sensitive information from existing log files, as well as establishing protocols for preventing similar issues in future system deployments and updates.