CVE-2025-1330 is a high-severity vulnerability classified as CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) affecting IBM CICS TX Standard 11.1 and IBM CICS TX Advanced 10.1 and 11.1. The flaw arises from improper handling of DNS return requests by the gethostbyname function, which is used to resolve hostnames to IP addresses. Specifically, the vulnerability allows a local user with limited privileges (low-level privileges) to exploit an out-of-bounds write condition. This can lead to arbitrary code execution on the affected system. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require local access with some privileges, making it a local privilege escalation vector. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability could allow attackers to execute malicious code, potentially leading to full system compromise, data breaches, or disruption of critical transaction processing systems that rely on IBM CICS TX. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the nature of the vulnerability and the critical role of CICS TX in enterprise transaction management make this a significant risk that must be addressed promptly.

European organizations that rely on IBM CICS TX Standard or Advanced versions 10.1 and 11.1 for transaction processing, especially in sectors such as banking, finance, insurance, and government, face considerable risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution, allowing attackers to manipulate transaction data, disrupt services, or exfiltrate sensitive information. Given the critical role of CICS TX in managing high-volume, mission-critical transactions, successful exploitation could result in severe operational disruptions, financial losses, regulatory non-compliance, and reputational damage. The requirement for local access limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, as insider threats or attackers who gain initial foothold through other means could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and move laterally within networks. The high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact underscores the importance of rapid remediation to protect sensitive European infrastructure and data.

To mitigate this vulnerability effectively, European organizations should: 1) Apply IBM-provided patches or updates as soon as they become available, as no patches are currently linked but IBM is expected to release fixes promptly. 2) Restrict local access to systems running affected versions of CICS TX to trusted personnel only, employing strict access controls and monitoring. 3) Implement robust endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 4) Conduct thorough audits of user privileges and remove unnecessary local access rights to minimize the attack surface. 5) Use network segmentation to isolate critical transaction processing systems from less secure network zones, reducing the risk of lateral movement. 6) Monitor system and application logs for unusual DNS resolution activity or errors related to gethostbyname function calls. 7) Prepare incident response plans specifically addressing potential exploitation scenarios involving local privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution on CICS TX systems.