CVE-2025-2138 is a security vulnerability identified in IBM Engineering Requirements Management Doors Next versions 7.0.2, 7.0.3, and 7.1. The core issue arises from improper enforcement of security policies on the client side instead of the server side, specifically related to comment deletion functionality. This design flaw allows an authenticated user on the network to delete comments authored by other users, bypassing intended access controls. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-602, which refers to client-side enforcement of server-side security. The attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity, requiring the attacker to have legitimate user credentials (low privileges) but no additional user interaction is needed. The vulnerability impacts data integrity by enabling unauthorized modification (deletion) of comments but does not affect confidentiality or availability. IBM has not yet released patches for this issue, and there are no known exploits in the wild as of the publication date. The CVSS v3.1 score is 3.5, reflecting a low severity primarily due to the requirement for authentication and the limited scope of impact. Organizations using the affected versions should be aware of the risk of unauthorized comment deletion, which could affect audit trails, collaboration, and traceability in requirements management processes.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-2138 lies in the potential compromise of data integrity within IBM Doors Next environments. Unauthorized deletion of comments can disrupt project documentation, traceability, and collaboration workflows, potentially leading to misunderstandings, loss of critical feedback, or audit trail gaps. This is particularly significant for industries with strict regulatory compliance requirements such as aerospace, automotive, and defense sectors prevalent in Europe, where requirements management tools are critical for product development and certification. Although the vulnerability does not expose sensitive data or cause service outages, the integrity compromise could indirectly affect decision-making and compliance reporting. Since exploitation requires authentication, the threat is limited to insiders or compromised user accounts, emphasizing the importance of strong access controls and monitoring. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for future attacks, especially in environments with multiple users and collaborative workflows.

To mitigate CVE-2025-2138, European organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Restrict user permissions in IBM Doors Next to the minimum necessary, ensuring that only trusted users have comment deletion rights. 2) Monitor and audit comment deletion activities regularly to detect unauthorized or suspicious behavior promptly. 3) Enforce strong authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication, to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 4) Isolate IBM Doors Next environments within secure network segments to limit exposure to unauthorized network users. 5) Engage with IBM support channels to obtain updates or patches as soon as they become available and plan for timely deployment. 6) Educate users about the risks of credential sharing and the importance of reporting unusual application behavior. 7) Consider implementing additional server-side validation or proxy controls if possible to enforce comment deletion policies robustly. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control tightening, monitoring, and proactive engagement with the vendor.