CVE-2025-36183 is a vulnerability identified in IBM watsonx.data versions 2.2 through 2.2.1, specifically within the IBM Lakehouse component. The issue is classified under CWE-434, which pertains to the unrestricted upload of files with dangerous types. This vulnerability allows a privileged user—someone with elevated permissions within the system—to upload files that are not properly validated for type or content. Because the system does not sufficiently restrict or sanitize these uploads, malicious files could be executed on the server side. Such execution could lead to unauthorized modification of files or data within the limited scope of the server environment. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), but requires high privileges (PR:H) and no user interaction (UI:N). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is confined to the vulnerable component. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 3.8, reflecting a low severity primarily due to the prerequisite of privileged access and limited impact on confidentiality (C:N), integrity (I:L), and availability (A:L). No public exploits have been reported, and no patches are currently linked, indicating that mitigation relies on administrative controls and monitoring. The vulnerability highlights the risk of insufficient file upload validation in enterprise data platforms, which can be leveraged by insiders or compromised privileged accounts to affect system integrity and availability.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-36183 is primarily related to the potential for insider threats or compromised privileged accounts to upload and execute malicious files within IBM watsonx.data environments. This could lead to unauthorized modification of data or disruption of data services, affecting data integrity and availability. While confidentiality is not directly impacted, the alteration or deletion of critical data could impair business operations, analytics accuracy, and decision-making processes. Organizations heavily reliant on IBM watsonx.data for data lakehouse and analytics workloads may experience operational disruptions. The requirement for privileged access limits the attack surface but also underscores the importance of strict access controls and monitoring of privileged user activities. Given the lack of known exploits, the immediate risk is low; however, the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks or insider misuse scenarios. European entities in sectors such as finance, manufacturing, and public services that utilize IBM data analytics platforms might face increased risk if controls are insufficient.

To mitigate CVE-2025-36183, European organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Enforce the principle of least privilege by strictly limiting who can upload files to IBM watsonx.data, ensuring only necessary privileged users have this capability. 2) Implement robust file type validation and sanitization mechanisms on the server side to block uploads of potentially dangerous file types or executable content. 3) Monitor and audit privileged user activities related to file uploads, including logging upload events and scanning uploaded files for malware or suspicious content. 4) Segregate duties so that file upload privileges are separated from other administrative functions to reduce risk of misuse. 5) Apply network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the watsonx.data environment to only trusted internal systems and users. 6) Stay updated with IBM security advisories and apply patches or updates promptly once available. 7) Conduct regular security awareness training for privileged users to reduce the risk of accidental or intentional misuse. These targeted controls go beyond generic advice by focusing on the unique aspects of this vulnerability and the operational context of IBM watsonx.data deployments.