CVE-2025-36114 is a medium severity vulnerability affecting IBM QRadar SOAR Plugin App versions 1.0.0 through 5.6.0. The root cause is improper input validation (CWE-20) in the handling of URL requests. Specifically, the application does not adequately sanitize or validate user-supplied URL paths, allowing an attacker to include directory traversal sequences such as '/../'. This enables the attacker to navigate the file system hierarchy beyond the intended directories and access arbitrary files on the system. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have low privileges (PR:L) but does not require user interaction (UI:N). It can be exploited remotely over the network (AV:N) without complex attack conditions (AC:L). The impact is primarily on confidentiality, as attackers can read sensitive files, but it does not affect integrity or availability. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.5, reflecting a medium severity. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability affects a critical security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) component used in IBM QRadar, which is widely deployed in enterprise security operations centers (SOCs) to automate incident response workflows. Exploitation could expose sensitive configuration files, logs, or credentials stored on the system, potentially leading to further compromise or information leakage.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of sensitive security data managed within IBM QRadar SOAR environments. Since QRadar SOAR is used to automate and orchestrate incident response, unauthorized access to its underlying files could reveal security policies, incident data, or credentials, undermining the organization's security posture. This could facilitate lateral movement by attackers or leak sensitive information subject to GDPR and other data protection regulations, leading to compliance violations and reputational damage. The impact is heightened for organizations in regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, which rely heavily on QRadar SOAR for security operations. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged as a foothold in targeted attacks against European enterprises or government agencies using IBM QRadar SOAR, especially if combined with other attack vectors.

Organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Immediately review and restrict network access to the QRadar SOAR Plugin App interfaces, limiting exposure to trusted IP addresses and internal networks only. 2) Monitor web server logs for suspicious URL patterns containing '/../' sequences to detect potential exploitation attempts. 3) Apply strict input validation and URL normalization controls at the web server or application gateway level to block directory traversal payloads before they reach the application. 4) Segregate the QRadar SOAR environment from other critical systems to contain potential breaches. 5) Regularly audit file system permissions to ensure that the application process has minimal read access only to necessary directories, reducing the impact of traversal. 6) Stay alert for IBM security advisories and apply patches or updates promptly once available. 7) Conduct internal penetration testing focusing on directory traversal and input validation weaknesses in QRadar SOAR deployments. 8) Educate SOC personnel to recognize signs of exploitation and respond swiftly.