CVE-2025-36026 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting IBM Datacap versions 9.1.7, 9.1.8, and 9.1.9. The issue arises because the application does not set the 'Secure' attribute on authorization tokens or session cookies. The 'Secure' attribute is a critical security flag that instructs browsers to only send cookies over HTTPS connections, preventing their exposure over unencrypted HTTP traffic. Without this attribute, cookies containing sensitive session or authorization information may be transmitted over insecure HTTP links. An attacker can exploit this by tricking a user into clicking on an HTTP link or embedding such a link on a website the user visits. When the browser sends the cookie over HTTP, an attacker monitoring the network traffic (e.g., via man-in-the-middle attacks on unsecured Wi-Fi networks) can intercept and steal the cookie values. This can lead to session hijacking or unauthorized access to the application. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-614, which concerns sensitive cookies being transmitted without the 'Secure' flag, increasing the risk of cookie theft. The CVSS v3.1 score is 4.3 (medium), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based, requires no privileges, but does require user interaction (clicking a malicious link), and impacts confidentiality only without affecting integrity or availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. This vulnerability highlights a common but critical misconfiguration in web application security related to cookie handling and transport security.

For European organizations using IBM Datacap 9.1.7 through 9.1.9, this vulnerability poses a risk of session cookie theft leading to unauthorized access to sensitive document capture and processing workflows. Given that Datacap is often used in sectors like finance, healthcare, and government for automated data capture and document processing, unauthorized access could expose personally identifiable information (PII), financial data, or confidential business information. The impact is primarily on confidentiality, as attackers could impersonate legitimate users if they obtain session cookies. Although the vulnerability does not directly affect data integrity or availability, the unauthorized access could facilitate further attacks or data exfiltration. The requirement for user interaction (clicking an HTTP link) somewhat limits exploitation, but phishing or malicious website compromises remain viable attack vectors. European organizations with remote or mobile workforces using insecure networks (e.g., public Wi-Fi) are particularly at risk. Additionally, non-compliance with GDPR could result if personal data is exposed due to this vulnerability, leading to regulatory penalties and reputational damage.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should immediately audit their IBM Datacap deployments to identify affected versions (9.1.7, 9.1.8, 9.1.9). Until IBM releases an official patch, administrators should implement the following specific measures: 1) Configure web server or application-level settings to enforce the 'Secure' attribute on all session and authorization cookies. This may involve modifying HTTP response headers or application cookie settings if configurable. 2) Enforce strict HTTPS usage by redirecting all HTTP traffic to HTTPS and disabling HTTP access where possible to prevent cookie transmission over insecure channels. 3) Implement HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) headers to ensure browsers only connect via HTTPS. 4) Educate users about the risks of clicking on untrusted HTTP links and encourage use of secure networks. 5) Monitor network traffic for suspicious HTTP requests that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6) Plan for timely application of official IBM patches once available. 7) Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block anomalous cookie transmissions or suspicious HTTP traffic. These targeted steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on cookie attribute enforcement, transport security hardening, and user awareness specific to this vulnerability.