CVE-2025-25046 is a vulnerability identified in IBM InfoSphere Information Server version 11.7, specifically affecting the DataStage Flow Designer component. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-319, which involves the cleartext transmission of sensitive information. In this case, sensitive data is transmitted via URLs or query parameters without encryption, making it susceptible to interception by unauthorized actors through man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. Since URLs and query parameters can be logged in various places such as browser history, proxy logs, or network monitoring tools, the exposure risk is heightened. The vulnerability does not require any authentication or user interaction to be exploited, but the attack complexity is rated high due to the need for network access to intercept the traffic. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 3.7, indicating a low severity primarily because the impact on confidentiality is limited (partial exposure of sensitive data), and there is no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits are reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability arises from insecure transmission practices rather than a flaw in the underlying cryptographic algorithms or authentication mechanisms.

For European organizations using IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information during data integration and processing workflows. Given that InfoSphere is often used in enterprise data environments, exposure of credentials, tokens, or other sensitive parameters could facilitate further attacks or unauthorized access to data assets. Although the direct impact is limited to confidentiality and rated low severity, the exposure of sensitive information could contravene GDPR requirements regarding data protection and breach notification, potentially leading to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Organizations in sectors with stringent data privacy requirements, such as finance, healthcare, and government, may face increased risk if sensitive data is transmitted insecurely. Additionally, attackers positioned on the same network segment (e.g., internal networks, VPNs, or compromised Wi-Fi) could exploit this vulnerability to gather intelligence or escalate attacks.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Enforce the use of HTTPS/TLS for all communications involving IBM InfoSphere Information Server, ensuring that URLs and query parameters are transmitted over encrypted channels to prevent interception. 2) Review and modify application configurations or custom integrations to avoid sending sensitive information in URLs or query strings; instead, use POST requests with encrypted payloads or secure headers. 3) Deploy network segmentation and monitoring to detect and prevent MITM attempts, including the use of intrusion detection systems (IDS) and network anomaly detection tools. 4) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests focusing on data transmission paths within InfoSphere environments. 5) Stay updated with IBM security advisories for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. 6) Educate developers and administrators on secure coding and configuration practices to avoid cleartext transmission of sensitive data.