CVE-2025-36100 is a vulnerability identified in IBM MQ Long Term Support (LTS) versions 9.1.0.0 through 9.1.0.29, 9.2.0.0 through 9.2.0.36, 9.3.0.0 through 9.3.0.30, 9.4.0.0 through 9.4.0.12, and IBM MQ Continuous Delivery (CD) versions 9.3.0.0 through 9.3.5.1 and 9.4.0.0 through 9.4.3.0. The vulnerability arises because when tracing is enabled in the Java and JMS clients of IBM MQ, passwords are stored in client configuration files in plaintext or otherwise accessible form. This storage of passwords violates secure credential management best practices and corresponds to CWE-260 (Passwords in Configuration Files). The vulnerability requires local access to the system where IBM MQ client configuration files reside, and the attack complexity is high, meaning an attacker must have some level of access and knowledge to exploit it. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.1 (medium severity), reflecting the local attack vector, high complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and a confidentiality impact classified as high. The vulnerability does not impact integrity or availability directly. No public exploits or active exploitation in the wild have been reported to date. The root cause is the tracing feature's behavior of logging sensitive credentials, which can be read by any local user with access to the file system, potentially exposing MQ credentials to unauthorized parties. This exposure could lead to unauthorized access to IBM MQ messaging infrastructure, enabling further attacks or data exfiltration. IBM has not yet published patches or mitigations specific to this vulnerability, so organizations must rely on configuration and access control measures.

For European organizations, the primary impact is the potential compromise of IBM MQ credentials due to local exposure of passwords in configuration files when tracing is enabled. IBM MQ is widely used in critical sectors such as finance, manufacturing, telecommunications, and government services across Europe, where secure messaging is essential. If an attacker gains local access—through insider threats, compromised accounts, or lateral movement—they could retrieve these passwords and gain unauthorized access to messaging queues, potentially intercepting or manipulating sensitive data flows. While the vulnerability does not directly affect system integrity or availability, the confidentiality breach could facilitate further attacks, including privilege escalation or data leakage. Organizations with multi-user environments or shared systems are at higher risk. The medium severity rating reflects that exploitation is not trivial and requires local access, but the impact on confidentiality is significant. This vulnerability could also undermine compliance with European data protection regulations such as GDPR if sensitive data is exposed or intercepted due to compromised credentials.

To mitigate CVE-2025-36100, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Disable IBM MQ tracing on client systems unless absolutely necessary, as tracing is the root cause of password exposure. 2) If tracing must be enabled for troubleshooting, ensure that configuration files containing passwords are stored in directories with strict access controls, limiting read permissions to only trusted administrators. 3) Regularly audit file system permissions on client machines to detect unauthorized access to MQ configuration files. 4) Implement host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) to monitor access to sensitive configuration files and alert on suspicious activity. 5) Enforce strong local user account management policies to prevent unauthorized local access, including the use of multi-factor authentication and least privilege principles. 6) Monitor IBM MQ logs and network traffic for unusual access patterns that could indicate credential misuse. 7) Stay updated with IBM security advisories for patches or updated versions that address this vulnerability and plan timely upgrades once available. 8) Consider encrypting sensitive configuration files or using secure credential storage mechanisms if supported by IBM MQ clients. 9) Educate system administrators and users about the risks of enabling tracing and the importance of protecting configuration files. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on configuration management, access control, and monitoring specific to this vulnerability.