CVE-2025-36425 is a vulnerability identified in IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows, specifically affecting versions 11.5.0 through 11.5.9 and 12.1.0 through 12.1.3, including Db2 Connect Server. The issue arises under specific High Availability Disaster Recovery (HADR) configurations, where an authenticated user with low privileges can exploit improper credential or sensitive information management (classified under CWE-256: Plaintext Storage of a Password) to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network (Attack Vector: Network) but requires low-level privileges (Privileges Required: Low) and no user interaction. The attack complexity is high, indicating that exploitation requires specific conditions or knowledge about the HADR setup. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality but does not affect integrity or availability. No public exploits have been reported yet, and IBM has not released patches at the time of this report. The vulnerability was reserved in April 2025 and published in February 2026 with a CVSS v3.1 score of 5.3, reflecting a medium severity level. The root cause relates to insufficient protection of sensitive information within the HADR configuration, potentially exposing credentials or other critical data to authenticated users who should not have access. This could lead to unauthorized data disclosure, undermining the confidentiality of the database environment.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of sensitive data exposure within critical database environments, especially those leveraging IBM Db2 with HADR for business continuity and disaster recovery. Confidentiality breaches could lead to leakage of proprietary, financial, or personal data, potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure that rely on IBM Db2 databases are particularly vulnerable. The requirement for authenticated access limits the attack surface to internal users or compromised credentials, but insider threats or lateral movement by attackers could exploit this flaw. The medium severity rating indicates a moderate risk, but the impact on confidentiality could be significant depending on the data exposed. Additionally, the complexity of exploitation suggests that only skilled attackers or those with detailed knowledge of the environment could leverage this vulnerability effectively. Nonetheless, the presence of this flaw in widely used enterprise database software necessitates prompt attention to prevent potential data breaches.

1. Monitor IBM's official channels for patches addressing CVE-2025-36425 and apply them promptly once released. 2. Restrict database user privileges rigorously, ensuring that users have only the minimum necessary permissions, especially in environments using HADR. 3. Review and harden HADR configurations to minimize exposure of sensitive information, including auditing replication and failover settings. 4. Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit which authenticated users can connect to the database servers, reducing the risk of lateral movement. 5. Employ strong authentication mechanisms and monitor for unusual access patterns or privilege escalations within the database environment. 6. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments focusing on database configurations and user permissions. 7. Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit within the database and HADR channels to reduce the impact of potential data exposure. 8. Educate internal teams about the risks of insider threats and enforce strict credential management policies.