Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessObtain low-privileged platform credentials
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DeliveryCraft HTTP request with manipulated authorization headers
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ExploitTransmit request to restricted endpoint
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ExecutionPlatform authorization check bypassed
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PersistAccess restricted API functionality
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ImpactExfiltrate sensitive data or invoke unauthorized operations
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V8 - Authorization Authorization checks on every request
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Privilege Escalation The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires a valid authenticated session on the IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation platform - the attacker must hold at least low-privileged credentials (CVSS PR:L). The target must be running one of the affected interim fix levels: 24.0.0 through 24.0.0-IF009, 24.0.1 through 24.0.1-IF008, 25.0.0 through 25.0.0-IF005, or 26.0.0 through 26.0.0-IF001. The attack is network-reachable (AV:N) with low complexity (AC:L), requiring no special network position, timing, or precondition beyond HTTP access to the platform. Limiting factors include the mandatory authentication step (PR:L) and the typical enterprise deployment pattern, which places Cloud Pak behind corporate network controls, restricting the pool of potential attackers to internal users or those with previously compromised accounts. |
| Impact | The CVSS 3.1 score of 5.4 (Medium) is well-calibrated for this vulnerability - PR:L constrains exploitation to already-authenticated users, C:L/I:L caps impact to partial data exposure and limited integrity effects, and A:N confirms no availability consequence. No CISA KEV listing and no identified public exploit code further reduce near-term exploitation pressure. That said, enterprise automation platforms handling sensitive business process data present attractive lateral movement targets once credentials are obtained, and even a mid-sized municipal IT team in bytom running this platform should treat interim fix deployment as a timely priority given the low attack complexity (AC:L) for any user holding valid credentials. The absence of EPSS data in the provided input precludes a probability-weighted exploitation estimate, but the authentication prerequisite substantially limits the realistic attacker population to insiders or previously compromised accounts. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker with low-privileged credentials to a Cloud Pak for Business Automation instance crafts HTTP requests containing header values engineered to subvert the platform's authorization checks, then sends those requests over the network to endpoints normally restricted to higher-privileged roles. The low attack complexity means no special tooling or timing is required beyond valid credentials and the ability to manipulate request headers. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Sep 15, 2026
Authorization bypass in IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation allows authenticated remote users to invoke restricted API endpoints by supplying manipulated HTTP headers that the platform fails to adequately validate. Affected version lines include 24.0.0, 24.0.1, 25.0.0, and 26.0.0, each bounded by specific interim fix thresholds. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
RemediationAI
Apply IBM-provided fixes that supersede the affected interim fix thresholds for the relevant release line: upgrade past 24.0.0 Interim Fix 009, 24.0.1 Interim Fix 008, 25.0.0 Interim Fix 005, or 26.0.0 Interim Fix 001, as applicable to the deployed version. Exact fix package names and installation instructions are detailed in the IBM security advisory at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7285931. As a compensating control prior to patching, restrict network access to Cloud Pak for Business Automation API endpoints to trusted internal network segments, preventing external or untrusted principals from reaching the affected HTTP interfaces. Additionally, enforce the principle of least privilege on platform accounts to minimize the population of low-privileged users who could trigger the bypass.
Affected VersionsENISA
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Technical ContextAI · show details
IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation is an enterprise-grade automation suite deployed on Red Hat OpenShift, providing workflow, document management, and decision automation capabilities for large organizations. The root cause is CWE-862 (Missing Authorization): the platform uses HTTP header values as inputs to its authorization logic but fails to properly validate or canonicalize those headers before acting on them. This allows a low-privileged authenticated caller to influence which endpoints the platform considers accessible for their session, bypassing role-based access controls gating restricted functionality. The CVSS vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N confirms the flaw is network-reachable, requires no special network positioning, demands only low-level credentials, and exploits automatically without user interaction.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
Low-privileged authentication required (PR:L); header manipulation is straightforward once credentials exist (AC:L); partial data and integrity impact only, no availability or scope change.
Primary rating from Vendor (us).
CVSS VectorVendor: us
DescriptionCVE.org
IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation could allow a remote attacker to bypass authorization and invoke restricted endpoints due to improper validation of HTTP headers.
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
EUVD-2026-78158
GHSA-v72p-h53q-g7f7
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Exploit-DB