Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessObtain low-privilege Guardium account
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DeliveryReach authenticated web endpoint
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ExploitSubmit path parameter with ../ traversal
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ExecutionEscape intended directory boundary
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PersistWrite or overwrite arbitrary file
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ImpactCompromise appliance integrity
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Path canonicalization, traversal prevention
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 2 tactics: Discovery, Collection The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | Requires a valid authenticated low-privilege account on IBM Guardium Data Protection 12.2 (PR:L) with network access to the management/web interface; no user interaction is needed (UI:N). Exploitation is limited by the authentication gate and by the appliance's typically segmented, restricted-access management network - it is not reachable by fully unauthenticated internet attackers. Affected version is Guardium Data Protection 12.2 per the CPE (cpe:2.3:a:ibm:guardium_data_protection); apply the fix in IBM bulletin node 7288035. |
| Impact | The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L, base 7.6) describes a network-reachable, low-complexity path traversal that requires an authenticated low-privilege account (PR:L). The impact profile is notable: I:H with only C:L/A:L strongly implies this is a write-primary traversal (arbitrary file write/overwrite of paths outside the intended directory) rather than the read-primary information disclosure typical of CWE-22 - for defenders this means integrity/system-tampering risk rather than pure data leakage. No EPSS score, no CISA KEV listing, and no public POC were provided, so there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis and no evidence of active or automatable exploitation. Real-world priority is moderate and bounded: the PR:L authentication gate plus the niche, typically network-segmented deployment of a Guardium appliance limits mass exploitation, so this is a genuine but targeted patch-in-cycle issue rather than an internet-wide emergency. One caveat to verify: the description only says 'traverse directories' (which sounds read-oriented) while the CVSS asserts I:H - confirm with the IBM bulletin whether the primitive is arbitrary file write, since that distinction changes remediation urgency. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker who already holds a low-privilege authenticated account on the Guardium web/management interface sends a crafted request containing directory-traversal sequences (e.g. ../) in a file/path parameter, escaping the intended directory to read or, given the I:H rating, write/overwrite files elsewhere on the appliance. Successful abuse could tamper with configuration or application files to undermine system integrity. No public exploit code is identified at time of analysis, and exploitation requires valid credentials. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Sep 18, 2026
Path traversal in IBM Guardium Data Protection 12.2 lets a remote authenticated attacker with a low-privilege account manipulate file paths to reach locations outside the intended directory, producing a high integrity impact alongside limited confidentiality and availability effects. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L, base 7.6) confirms the flaw is network-reachable and low-complexity but gated behind a valid account, so exposure is bounded by the authentication requirement and the typically segmented management network these appliances sit on. No public exploit code has been identified at time of analysis and there is no CISA KEV listing; IBM has published a vendor patch, so remediation is available.
RemediationAI
Vendor-released patch: IBM has made a fix available per its advisory at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7288035 - apply the update to IBM Guardium Data Protection 12.2 using the exact build specified in that bulletin, and confirm the target version against the advisory before deploying. Where immediate patching is not possible, constrain exposure by restricting network access to the Guardium management and web interface to trusted administrative segments only (for example via firewall rules or management-network ACLs), noting that this degrades remote administration convenience; audit and minimize the population of low-privilege accounts that can authenticate to the interface, since the flaw requires a valid account, and monitor application and filesystem logs for anomalous traversal-style path strings as a detection compensating control. Be aware that log monitoring is detective rather than preventive and will not stop exploitation on its own.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in euvd
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
The vulnerability is an instance of CWE-22, Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal'), in IBM Guardium Data Protection 12.2. The underlying issue class arises when an application accepts a user-supplied path or filename and passes it to filesystem operations without canonicalizing it or stripping traversal sequences such as ../, causing operations to resolve outside the intended directory. Because the assessed vector carries I:H, the traversal most plausibly enables writing to or overwriting files reachable by the Guardium process, with the C:L and A:L components reflecting potential disclosure of files and partial disruption of service. The CPE record (cpe:2.3:a:ibm:guardium_data_protection:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*) confirms the affected product line, with the advisory text scoping the issue to release 12.2 and the management/web-facing component of the appliance.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:L
Network-reachable, low-complexity traversal gated by a low-privilege account (PR:L); I:H reflects likely arbitrary file write while confidentiality and availability impacts are limited (C:L/A:L).
Primary rating from Vendor (ibm).
CVSS VectorVendor: ibm
DescriptionCVE.org
IBM Guardium Data Protection 12.2 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to traverse directories on the system due to a path traversal vulnerability.
Executive ViewAI
IBM Guardium Data Protection 12.2, the platform many organizations rely on for database activity monitoring and compliance evidence, contains a high-severity path traversal flaw that allows a remote attacker holding any valid low-privilege account to read and, more importantly, modify files outside the intended application directory. Because Guardium is itself a control used to assure the integrity of regulated data, tampering with its underlying files can undermine the trustworthiness of the audit and monitoring records leadership depends on for compliance attestation. Exposure is constrained by the need for a legitimate account and by the traditionally segmented management networks these appliances occupy, but any environment with a broad or loosely governed user base should treat this as a priority remediation item.
Apply vendor patch.
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.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Path traversal exploits occur when applications use user-controlled input to construct file system paths without proper validation.
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