CVE-2025-33003
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in IBM InfoSphere Information Server allows non-root users within a container environment to escalate their privileges to root-level capabilities. It affects versions 11.7.0.0 through 11.7.1.6 running in containerized deployments. Attackers with initial access to a container could exploit this to gain full control within that container.
💻 Affected Systems
- IBM InfoSphere Information Server
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An attacker gains full root privileges within the container, allowing complete compromise of the InfoSphere instance, data theft/modification, and potential lateral movement to other systems.
Likely Case
Malicious or compromised users escalate privileges to perform unauthorized actions, access sensitive data, or disrupt operations within the containerized environment.
If Mitigated
With proper container isolation and least privilege principles, impact is limited to the specific container without affecting the host system or other containers.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires existing access to container as non-root user. No public exploit code available as of analysis.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 11.7.1.7 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7246684
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download IBM InfoSphere Information Server 11.7.1.7 or later from IBM Fix Central. 2. Apply the patch following IBM's installation instructions. 3. Restart all affected containers and services.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Container Privilege Reduction
linuxRun containers with minimal privileges by removing unnecessary capabilities
docker run --cap-drop=ALL --cap-add=NET_BIND_SERVICE [your_image]
kubectl apply securityContext with appropriate capabilities
User Namespace Isolation
linuxEnable user namespace remapping to prevent container users from mapping to host root
echo '{"userns-remap": "default"}' > /etc/docker/daemon.json
systemctl restart docker
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls to prevent unauthorized users from accessing containers
- Apply principle of least privilege by removing all unnecessary capabilities from container configurations
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check InfoSphere version: Run 'versionInfo.sh' in InfoSphere installation directory and verify if version is between 11.7.0.0 and 11.7.1.6Check Version:
./versionInfo.sh | grep 'Product Version'Verify Fix Applied:
After patching, verify version is 11.7.1.7 or later using 'versionInfo.sh' command📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected privilege escalation events in container logs
- Unusual root-level activities from non-root users in audit logs
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections from containers following privilege escalation
SIEM Query:
source="container_logs" AND (event="setuid" OR event="capset" OR user="root") AND user_change="true"