Introduction
Attackers who gain access to IBM InfoSphere Information Server can leverage a critical command injection flaw to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary system commands. For organizations relying on InfoSphere for enterprise data integration, this vulnerability exposes core infrastructure to potential compromise.
IBM InfoSphere Information Server is a flagship data integration and governance platform widely deployed across large enterprises for business intelligence, analytics, and regulatory compliance. Its central role in data processing pipelines makes vulnerabilities in this product especially impactful in the global tech ecosystem.
Technical Information
CVE-2025-36245 is a command injection vulnerability classified under CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command). It affects IBM InfoSphere Information Server versions 11.7.0.0 through 11.7.1.6. The root cause is improper validation of user-supplied input in authenticated areas of the application. Attackers with valid credentials can supply specially crafted input containing shell metacharacters, which are not properly sanitized before being passed to OS command execution functions. This allows arbitrary command execution with elevated privileges, potentially resulting in full system compromise. The vulnerability is notable for its wide version impact and the privilege escalation it enables. No public code snippets or PoC are available. No detection methods or patch details are available in public sources.
Affected Systems and Versions
- IBM InfoSphere Information Server
- Versions 11.7.0.0 through 11.7.1.6
- All configurations using these versions are vulnerable
Vendor Security History
IBM InfoSphere Information Server has a documented history of high-severity vulnerabilities, including:
- CVE-2022-22454: OS command injection
- CVE-2025-25045: Sensitive information disclosure
- CVE-2025-1499: Cleartext storage of credentials
- CVE-2025-3221: Denial of service
- CVE-2025-0966: SQL injection
IBM typically issues structured security bulletins and patches, but the recurrence of similar issues suggests ongoing challenges in secure development practices for this product line.