CVE-2025-36154 is a vulnerability identified in IBM Concert versions 1.0.0 through 2.1.0, where sensitive information is stored in cleartext on disk during recursive Docker builds. IBM Concert is a software product used for orchestration and automation, and during its Docker build processes, it improperly handles sensitive data by writing it unencrypted to files on the local filesystem. This flaw is categorized under CWE-313, which relates to cleartext storage of sensitive information. The vulnerability allows any local user on the system to access these files and retrieve confidential data without requiring privileges or user interaction, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). The CVSS score of 6.2 reflects a medium severity, primarily due to the local attack vector and the lack of integrity or availability impact. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction, increasing the risk in multi-user environments or shared build servers. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no official patches have been released yet. The root cause is the insecure handling of sensitive data during recursive Docker builds, which may include secrets, credentials, or configuration details. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure data handling practices in build automation tools and containerized environments.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-36154 is the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information stored by IBM Concert during Docker builds. This can lead to exposure of credentials, secrets, or proprietary configuration data, which could be leveraged for further attacks such as privilege escalation, lateral movement, or data breaches. The vulnerability affects confidentiality but does not compromise data integrity or system availability. Organizations using IBM Concert in development, testing, or production environments with shared or multi-user access are at higher risk. The impact is particularly significant in regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, where data confidentiality is paramount. Additionally, organizations employing containerization and CI/CD pipelines may face increased exposure if build environments are not properly isolated. The lack of required privileges or user interaction means that even low-privileged local users or attackers who gain limited access could exploit this vulnerability. This could undermine trust in software supply chain security and increase compliance risks under GDPR and other data protection regulations.

Since no official patches are currently available for CVE-2025-36154, European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Restrict local access to build servers and developer workstations running IBM Concert to trusted personnel only, using strict access controls and role-based permissions. 2) Isolate Docker build environments in secure, ephemeral containers or virtual machines that are destroyed after use to prevent persistent storage of sensitive data. 3) Audit and review build scripts and configurations to ensure sensitive information is not written to disk in cleartext during recursive builds. 4) Employ encryption or secure vault solutions for managing secrets and credentials used in build processes, avoiding embedding them directly in build files. 5) Monitor filesystem access logs and use file integrity monitoring tools to detect unauthorized access or modifications to sensitive files. 6) Educate developers and DevOps teams about secure handling of secrets and the risks of cleartext storage. 7) Stay informed about IBM Concert updates and apply patches promptly once released. 8) Consider alternative orchestration tools with stronger security postures if immediate risk reduction is required. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on build environment isolation, access control, and secret management tailored to the nature of this vulnerability.