CVE-2025-2987 is a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability identified in IBM Maximo Asset Management version 7.6.1.3. SSRF vulnerabilities occur when an attacker can abuse a server's functionality to send crafted requests to internal or external systems that the server can access but the attacker normally cannot. In this case, the vulnerability requires the attacker to be authenticated, meaning they must have valid credentials to the Maximo system. Once authenticated, the attacker can exploit the SSRF flaw to send unauthorized HTTP requests from the Maximo server to other internal network resources or external systems. This can lead to network reconnaissance, allowing the attacker to map internal services and potentially discover other vulnerabilities or sensitive information. Additionally, SSRF can be leveraged as a pivot point to facilitate further attacks such as accessing internal APIs, bypassing firewalls, or triggering actions on behalf of the server. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 3.8, indicating a low severity primarily because exploitation requires authentication and the impact on confidentiality and integrity is limited to partial information disclosure or minor data manipulation without affecting availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-918, which covers SSRF issues. Given IBM Maximo’s role as an enterprise asset management platform widely used in industries such as manufacturing, utilities, and transportation, this vulnerability could be leveraged by insiders or compromised users to gain deeper network insights or facilitate lateral movement within an organization’s infrastructure.

For European organizations using IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.6.1.3, this SSRF vulnerability poses a risk primarily to internal network security and confidentiality. An attacker with valid credentials could exploit this flaw to perform unauthorized network scans and access internal services that are otherwise protected by network segmentation or firewalls. This could expose sensitive operational technology (OT) or industrial control system (ICS) environments, especially in sectors like energy, manufacturing, and transportation where Maximo is prevalent. While the direct impact on data integrity and availability is low, the SSRF could serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, including privilege escalation or data exfiltration. The requirement for authentication reduces the risk from external attackers but increases concern about insider threats or compromised user accounts. Given the critical nature of asset management systems in maintaining operational continuity, any exploitation could indirectly disrupt business processes or safety-critical operations if attackers leverage the SSRF to access or manipulate internal systems.

To mitigate this vulnerability effectively, European organizations should: 1) Immediately review and restrict user access controls to ensure only necessary personnel have authenticated access to IBM Maximo, minimizing the attack surface. 2) Implement strict network segmentation and firewall rules to limit the Maximo server’s ability to initiate outbound requests to sensitive internal resources, thereby reducing the impact of SSRF exploitation. 3) Monitor and log all outbound HTTP requests originating from the Maximo server to detect anomalous or unauthorized request patterns indicative of SSRF exploitation attempts. 4) Apply principle of least privilege on service accounts and API integrations within Maximo to limit what internal resources can be accessed. 5) Stay alert for IBM’s official patches or security advisories addressing CVE-2025-2987 and plan prompt deployment once available. 6) Conduct internal security awareness training to highlight the risks of credential compromise and encourage strong authentication practices, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) where supported. 7) Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS) with SSRF detection capabilities to provide an additional layer of defense.