Overview
CVE-2025-36160 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting IBM Concert versions 1.0.0 through 2.0.0. This vulnerability allows an attacker to potentially glean sensitive server information from HTTP response headers. This information can then be leveraged to craft more targeted and sophisticated attacks against the vulnerable system.
Technical Details
The vulnerability resides in the way IBM Concert handles HTTP response headers. Specific headers may inadvertently expose internal server details, such as:
- Server software version
- Underlying operating system details
- Installed modules or plugins
- Internal IP addresses (in some cases)
An attacker can retrieve these headers by sending various HTTP requests to the server. The exposed information, while not directly exploitable in itself, provides valuable reconnaissance data that can be used to identify other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations present in the IBM Concert installation.
CVSS Analysis
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) score for CVE-2025-36160 is 5.3 (Medium). This score is based on the following factors:
- Attack Vector (AV): Network (N)
- Attack Complexity (AC): Low (L)
- Privileges Required (PR): None (N)
- User Interaction (UI): None (N)
- Scope (S): Unchanged (U)
- Confidentiality (C): Low (L)
- Integrity (I): None (N)
- Availability (A): None (N)
The medium severity reflects the fact that the vulnerability allows information disclosure but does not directly lead to code execution or system compromise.
Possible Impact
While not a critical vulnerability, the information disclosure can significantly aid attackers in:
- Targeted Attacks: Identifying specific software versions and known vulnerabilities associated with them.
- Exploit Development: Understanding the server environment to develop or adapt exploits more effectively.
- System Fingerprinting: Mapping out the internal network and infrastructure.
Ultimately, this information can increase the likelihood of a successful attack against the IBM Concert system.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
IBM has released a fix for this vulnerability. It is highly recommended to upgrade your IBM Concert installation to a version that includes the patch. Follow these steps:
- Visit the IBM Support page (linked below) for the official patch and upgrade instructions.
- Download the appropriate patch for your IBM Concert version.
- Follow the installation instructions provided by IBM.
- After patching, verify that the sensitive information is no longer exposed in HTTP response headers.
If patching is not immediately possible, consider implementing temporary mitigation measures such as:
- Configuring a web application firewall (WAF) to strip potentially sensitive headers.
- Reviewing and hardening server configuration to minimize information exposure.
