CVE-2025-36379 identifies a cryptographic weakness in IBM Security QRadar Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) versions 3.12 through 3.12.23, specifically within IBM Security ReaQta components. The vulnerability stems from the use of inadequate encryption strength, classified under CWE-326, which refers to the use of cryptographic algorithms that do not provide sufficient protection against modern cryptanalysis techniques. This flaw could enable a remote attacker to decrypt highly sensitive data transmitted or stored by the affected product without requiring any authentication or user interaction. The CVSS v3.1 vector indicates the attack can be performed remotely over the network (AV:N), but the attack complexity is high (AC:H), meaning specialized knowledge or conditions are needed to exploit the weakness. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality (C:H) but does not affect integrity or availability. No patches or fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits have been observed in the wild, suggesting the vulnerability is newly disclosed or not yet weaponized. IBM QRadar EDR is widely used for security monitoring and incident response, making the confidentiality of its data critical. The cryptographic weakness could expose sensitive telemetry, alerts, or forensic data to interception or decryption by adversaries, potentially undermining incident detection and response efforts.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of sensitive security data collected and processed by IBM QRadar EDR. Exposure of such data could lead to the leakage of internal security posture, detection capabilities, or incident details, which attackers could leverage to evade defenses or conduct more targeted attacks. Critical sectors such as finance, energy, telecommunications, and government agencies that rely on QRadar for threat detection and response could face increased risk of espionage or sabotage. The high attack complexity reduces the likelihood of widespread exploitation but does not eliminate risk from well-resourced adversaries, including nation-state actors. Additionally, the lack of impact on integrity and availability means systems remain operational but compromised confidentiality could still have severe regulatory and operational consequences under GDPR and other European data protection laws.

Organizations should monitor IBM’s advisories closely and apply patches or updates as soon as they become available to address the cryptographic weakness. In the interim, network segmentation should be enforced to limit exposure of QRadar EDR components to untrusted networks. Deploying additional encryption layers, such as VPNs or TLS with strong cipher suites, around QRadar data flows can help mitigate risks. Security teams should enhance monitoring for anomalous network traffic patterns indicative of cryptanalysis attempts or data exfiltration. Reviewing and hardening cryptographic configurations within QRadar and related infrastructure is recommended. Conducting regular security audits and penetration tests focused on cryptographic controls will help identify residual risks. Finally, organizations should prepare incident response plans that consider potential data confidentiality breaches involving security monitoring tools.