CVE-2025-1992 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-401 (Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime) affecting IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows, including DB2 Connect Server, specifically versions 11.5.0 through 11.5.9 and 12.1.0 through 12.1.1. The flaw arises in federation environments where an authenticated user with low privileges can trigger a condition that causes the database server to allocate memory but fail to release it after its effective use. This memory leak can accumulate over time, leading to resource exhaustion and ultimately a denial of service (DoS) condition where the database service becomes unavailable or unstable. The vulnerability requires network access and authentication, but no user interaction, and does not affect confidentiality or integrity of data. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.3, reflecting a medium severity due to the impact on availability and the requirement for authentication and high attack complexity. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability poses a risk to environments relying on federated Db2 instances, where multiple database systems are interconnected for query processing and data sharing. The issue underscores the importance of proper memory management in complex database federation architectures to maintain service reliability.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-1992 is the potential for denial of service in critical database environments, which can disrupt business operations, especially in sectors relying heavily on IBM Db2 for data management such as finance, telecommunications, and government. The vulnerability could lead to unplanned downtime, affecting availability of services and potentially causing financial losses or regulatory compliance issues. Since the flaw requires authenticated access, insider threats or compromised credentials could be leveraged to exploit this vulnerability. In federated database environments common in large enterprises and public sector institutions, the risk is amplified due to the interconnected nature of systems. The absence of confidentiality or integrity impact reduces the risk of data breaches but does not diminish the operational risk posed by service outages. European organizations with complex, distributed database architectures should consider this vulnerability a significant operational risk.

To mitigate CVE-2025-1992, organizations should first monitor IBM’s official channels for patches or updates addressing this memory leak and apply them promptly once available. Until patches are released, administrators should limit the number of authenticated users with federation access to trusted personnel only and enforce strict access controls and monitoring to detect unusual memory consumption patterns. Implementing resource quotas or limits on memory usage per session or user can help contain the impact of memory leaks. Regularly auditing and reviewing federation configurations to minimize unnecessary connections can reduce the attack surface. Additionally, deploying runtime monitoring tools that alert on abnormal memory usage in Db2 processes can provide early warning signs of exploitation attempts. Organizations should also ensure robust credential management and multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of unauthorized access. Finally, maintaining updated incident response plans that include database service recovery procedures will help minimize downtime if exploitation occurs.