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IBM DataStage EUVDEUVD-2026-98067

| CVE-2026-84418 HIGH
Improper Certificate Validation (CWE-295)
2026-10-12 ibm GHSA-528j-3v52-48qw
7.4
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Gain MITM position on client-platform path
  2. Delivery
    Present forged TLS certificate
  3. Exploit
    Bypass client-side certificate validation
  4. Execution
    Capture IAM bearer Authorization header
  5. Impact
    Replay token to read and manipulate DataStage projects

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A07:2025 - Authentication Failures
ASVS 5.0
V12 - Secure Communication Certificate validation
Exploitation Conditions

Requires the attacker to hold an active man-in-the-middle position on the network path between the user's own machine (running the client-side DataStage SDK / session adapter) and the Cloud Pak for Data platform, and to present a forged TLS certificate that the SDK fails to validate (CWE-295). The vulnerable behavior is the session adapter automatically attaching the IAM bearer Authorization header, so an interactive session making authenticated API calls must be in progress. Limiting factors: exploitation explicitly CANNOT be performed by a co-tenant inside the shared cluster - it needs an external network interceptor; it is bounded to clients of version 5.4.0.0; and it depends on the victim transmitting a live platform-scope token during the intercepted session. No special non-default product configuration is otherwise required.

Impact

This is a genuinely moderate (not top-tier) priority. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.4 (High) rests on AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N with C:H/I:H - meaning no authentication or user interaction is needed, but AC:H correctly reflects the hard prerequisite: the attacker must occupy a man-in-the-middle position on the network path between the client-side SDK and the IBM platform to present a forged TLS certificate (CWE-295). The CVSS vector and the description are fully consistent here - the network vector (AV:N) combined with the stated 'external network interceptor' requirement matches AC:H rather than contradicting it. Exploitation status: no public exploit identified at time of analysis - the input provides no EPSS score, no CISA KEV listing, and no POC flag, so there is no evidence of active or automatable exploitation. The decisive limiting factor is the MITM precondition: this is not a remotely automatable, internet-sprayable flaw, so despite the High rating it is better treated as a targeted threat against users on untrusted or attacker-controlled networks (public Wi-Fi, compromised LAN, hostile egress paths) rather than a mass-exploitation emergency. EPSS data is absent, so exploitation probability cannot be independently quantified.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker positioned on the network path (e.g., a hostile Wi-Fi gateway or compromised router) between a developer's machine running the DataStage client SDK and the Cloud Pak for Data platform presents a forged TLS certificate. Because the SDK fails to properly validate the certificate, the TLS session is established with the attacker, who captures the IAM bearer Authorization header the session adapter automatically attaches. The attacker then replays that platform-scope token to read and manipulate the victim's DataStage projects, flows, assets, and pipeline definitions. No public exploit code is identified at time of analysis.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Oct 12, 2026

Man-in-the-middle interception of IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 client sessions lets an attacker who presents a forged TLS certificate capture the IAM bearer Authorization header that the session adapter attaches automatically, granting full platform-scope tenant API access to read and manipulate the victim's DataStage projects, flows, assets, and pipeline definitions. The root cause is CWE-295 improper certificate validation in client-side SDK code running on the user's own machine, so exploitation requires an external network interceptor on the path between that machine and the Cloud Pak for Data platform - a co-tenant inside the shared cluster cannot exploit it - together with an active authenticated session that transmits a live token. CVSS 3.1 scores this 7.4 (AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N); no public exploit identified at time of analysis, and patch data indicates a fix is available from the vendor.

RemediationAI

Patch available per vendor advisory: apply the fix for IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data as documented at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7288649, and update client-side SDK / session adapter installations on user workstations to the corrected build (the CVE record identifies 5.4.0.0 as vulnerable but does not state the exact fixed version in the supplied data, so confirm the target release in the advisory before upgrading). Until workstations are remediated, the highest-value compensating controls are network-based: require client connections to traverse a trusted private network or VPN instead of untrusted Wi-Fi, public hotspots, or unmanaged proxies, accepting the trade-off of reduced flexibility and possible performance overhead; where the environment supports it, enforce TLS certificate pinning or validation at the client or forward-proxy layer, understanding that pinning must be updated whenever legitimate platform certificates rotate, or it will cause outages. Minimize the blast radius of any captured token by shortening IAM token lifetimes, issuing least-privilege platform-scope tokens rather than broad tenant-wide credentials, and restricting token use to expected source addresses where the platform supports such conditions; an operational trade-off is more frequent re-authentication for users. Monitor Cloud Pak for Data API audit logs for IAM bearer token use from anomalous IP addresses, unexpected geographies, or unusual project/asset modification patterns, and be prepared to revoke tokens and reset credentials immediately if interception is suspected; revoking tokens forcibly logs out legitimate sessions, so coordinate with affected users. Finally, treat any session that ran over an untrusted network as potentially compromised and rotate its credentials after patching.

Affected VersionsENISA

DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0

Affected Packages

euvd datastage_on_cloud_pak_for_data no fix

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-295 (Improper Certificate Validation) in the client-side DataStage SDK / session adapter shipped with IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0, tracked under CPE cpe:2.3:a:ibm:datastage_on_cloud_pak_for_data:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*. Because the SDK runs on the user's workstation rather than inside the shared cluster, the trust boundary it crosses is the network path from that workstation to the Cloud Pak for Data platform: an attacker who can obtain a man-in-the-middle position (for example via ARP/DNS spoofing, a hostile proxy, or a rogue access point) and present a certificate the SDK fails to validate can terminate the TLS session transparently. The session adapter then automatically injects the user's IAM bearer Authorization header into the intercepted request, handing the attacker a token with full platform-scope tenant privileges. This maps to the assessed vector AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N, where the high attack complexity reflects the need for a privileged network position and a live authenticated session, while PR:N and UI:N reflect that no platform credentials or user interaction are required once that position is held. Confidentiality and integrity impacts are high because the stolen token permits both reading and modifying DataStage projects, flows, assets, and pipeline definitions; availability impact is rated none. The description explicitly scopes exploitation to external interception rather than a co-tenant abusing shared cluster access, which is consistent with the high attack complexity rating.

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Severity by source

Vendor (ibm) PRIMARY HIGH
NVD 7.4 HIGH
AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
vuln.today AI 7.4 HIGH

AV:N and PR:N/UI:N because no victim auth or interaction is needed, but AC:H reflects the required MITM position and forged cert; C:H/I:H as the stolen token reads and manipulates data, A:N as no availability impact.

3.1 AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (ibm).

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
None

DescriptionNVD

IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 can allow a man-in-the-middle attacker to present a forged TLS certificate, intercept the connection, and capture the IAM bearer Authorization header automatically attached by the session adapter. The captured token grants full platform-scope tenant API access, enabling the attacker to read and manipulate the victim's DataStage projects, flows, assets, and pipeline definitions. This is client-side SDK code running on the user's own machine, so exploitation requires an external network interceptor rather than a co-tenant in the shared cluster.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

IBM DataStage users connecting to Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 through the affected client SDK are exposed to credential theft: an attacker positioned on the network path can intercept a session and capture the IAM bearer token that is attached automatically, gaining tenant-wide read and write access to the victim's DataStage projects, flows, assets, and pipeline definitions. The risk is concentrated among analysts and engineers who work from untrusted or third-party networks, and it requires an active session transmitting a live token at the moment of interception, so co-tenants inside the cluster cannot trigger it. Leadership should care because a single captured token yields platform-scope access to enterprise data engineering assets, creating both confidentiality and data-integrity exposure across the tenant.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.1%
Top 97% exploitable
Prevalence
Low
specialized IBM enterprise ETL platform, limited and industry-specific deployment footprint
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

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.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.1%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

37
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +37
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

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