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 instructs browsers to only send cookies over HTTPS connections, preventing their exposure over unencrypted HTTP traffic. Without this attribute, cookies can be transmitted over insecure HTTP links. An attacker can exploit this by tricking a user into clicking an HTTP link or embedding such a link in a website the user visits. When the browser sends the cookie over HTTP, an attacker monitoring the network (e.g., via man-in-the-middle attacks on unsecured Wi-Fi or compromised network segments) can intercept these cookies. These cookies may contain sensitive session or authorization tokens, potentially allowing the attacker to hijack the user's session or impersonate the user. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-614, which concerns sensitive cookies transmitted without the 'Secure' flag. The CVSS v3.1 base 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). The impact is limited to confidentiality loss of cookie data, with no direct impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. However, the vulnerability represents a significant risk in environments where IBM Datacap is used, especially if users access the system over networks where traffic interception is possible.

For European organizations using IBM Datacap versions 9.1.7 through 9.1.9, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of session cookies, enabling attackers to hijack user sessions. This can result in unauthorized access to sensitive document capture and processing workflows managed by Datacap, potentially exposing confidential business information or personally identifiable information (PII). Given the GDPR regulations in Europe, any data breach involving personal data could lead to regulatory fines and reputational damage. The risk is heightened in organizations where users access Datacap over unsecured or public networks, such as remote or mobile workers. While the vulnerability does not directly affect system integrity or availability, session hijacking can facilitate further attacks or unauthorized data extraction. The absence of the 'Secure' attribute also indicates potential gaps in secure development practices, which could be indicative of other security weaknesses. European organizations with compliance requirements for secure session management should prioritize addressing this vulnerability to maintain regulatory compliance and protect sensitive data.

1. Immediate mitigation involves configuring IBM Datacap to set the 'Secure' attribute on all session and authorization cookies to ensure they are only transmitted over HTTPS connections. This may require updating application configuration or applying vendor patches once available. 2. Enforce HTTPS-only access to the Datacap application by implementing strict transport security policies (e.g., HTTP Strict Transport Security - HSTS) to prevent users from accessing the application over HTTP. 3. Educate users about the risks of clicking on untrusted HTTP links, especially those purporting to relate to Datacap services. 4. Monitor network traffic for suspicious HTTP requests that include session cookies to detect potential exploitation attempts. 5. Implement network-level protections such as VPNs or secure Wi-Fi to reduce the risk of traffic interception. 6. Regularly audit and update web application security settings to ensure compliance with best practices for cookie security, including setting HttpOnly and SameSite attributes where appropriate. 7. Coordinate with IBM support to obtain patches or updates that address this vulnerability and plan timely deployment. 8. Review and enhance incident response plans to quickly detect and respond to session hijacking incidents.