CVE-2025-36185 is a vulnerability identified in IBM Db2 versions 12.1.0 through 12.1.2 across Linux, UNIX, and Windows platforms, including Db2 Connect Server. The issue stems from improper neutralization of special elements in data query logic, classified under CWE-943. This flaw allows a local user to craft specially formed queries or inputs that the Db2 engine fails to properly sanitize or handle, leading to a denial of service condition. The vulnerability affects the availability of the database service by potentially causing crashes or hangs when processing malicious queries. The CVSS v3.1 score is 6.2, reflecting a medium severity with a local attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and impact limited to availability. Since the attack requires local access, remote exploitation is not feasible without prior compromise. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no official patches have been linked at the time of publication. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and query logic sanitization in database management systems to prevent service disruption. Organizations using affected Db2 versions should monitor for unusual query patterns and prepare to deploy patches once IBM releases them.

For European organizations, this vulnerability primarily threatens the availability of critical database services running IBM Db2 12.1.0 through 12.1.2. A successful local attack could cause denial of service, leading to downtime of applications dependent on Db2, potentially disrupting business operations, customer services, and internal processes. Industries such as finance, telecommunications, government, and manufacturing that rely heavily on IBM Db2 for transactional and analytical workloads could face operational interruptions. Although the vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, the loss of availability can have cascading effects on service level agreements, regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR mandates on service continuity), and reputation. The requirement for local access limits the risk to environments where untrusted users have local system access, such as shared hosting or poorly segmented internal networks. However, insider threats or attackers who have gained initial footholds could exploit this vulnerability to escalate disruption. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the need for proactive mitigation.

1. Restrict local access to IBM Db2 servers strictly to trusted administrators and service accounts; implement strong access controls and user authentication. 2. Employ network segmentation and host-based firewalls to limit lateral movement and reduce the risk of attackers gaining local access. 3. Monitor database logs and system behavior for unusual query patterns or signs of resource exhaustion that could indicate exploitation attempts. 4. Apply principle of least privilege to all users and processes interacting with Db2 to minimize potential attack vectors. 5. Stay informed of IBM security advisories and apply official patches or updates promptly once released to address this vulnerability. 6. Consider implementing runtime protections or database activity monitoring tools that can detect and block malformed queries targeting this vulnerability. 7. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on local access controls and database query handling. 8. Prepare incident response plans to quickly isolate and recover from potential denial of service events affecting Db2 services.