Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HCVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.
Summary
CVE-2025-14115 is a high-severity Use of Hard-coded Credentials (CWE-798) vulnerability in Ibm (inferred from references). Its CVSS base score is 8.4 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Unsecured Credentials (T1552); ranked at the 1th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to IA-5 (Authenticator Management) and SC-12 (Cryptographic Key Establishment and Management) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
IBM Sterling Connect:Direct for UNIX Container versions 6.3.0.0 through 6.3.0.6 Interim Fix 016, and 6.4.0.0 through 6.4.0.3 Interim Fix 019 are affected by CVE-2025-14115. The vulnerability stems from hard-coded credentials, such as a password or cryptographic key, which the software uses for inbound authentication, outbound communication to external components, or encryption of internal data. Published on 2026-01-20, it carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.4 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) and maps to CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials).
Local attackers can exploit this issue with low complexity and no privileges, as it requires only local access (AV:L) and no user interaction (UI:N). Exploitation enables high-impact compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, allowing attackers to bypass authentication, intercept or alter communications, or decrypt internal data protected by the hard-coded credentials.
The IBM security bulletin at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7257143 details the flaw and advises applying the latest interim fixes beyond IF016 for 6.3 or IF019 for 6.4, or upgrading to patched releases to eliminate the hard-coded credentials and mitigate the risk.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2026-3421
Vulnerability Data
IBM Sterling Connect:Direct for UNIX Container 6.3.0.0 through 6.3.0.6 Interim Fix 016, and 6.4.0.0 through 6.4.0.3 Interim Fix 019 IBM® Sterling Connect:Direct for UNIX contains hard-coded credentials, such as a password or cryptographic key, which it uses for its own…
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inbound authentication, outbound communication to external components, or encryption of internal data.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Authenticator management requires secure distribution and handling of credentials, structurally discouraging hard-coded values.
Cryptographic key management mandates proper establishment and handling instead of embedding keys in code.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
PR.AA-01's credential/key-management processes can reduce the incentive to embed secrets but do not address or detect hard-coded values in source code, so the weakness remains fully possible.
PR.AA-02 addresses human identity proofing and per-person credential issuance at enrollment; it has no bearing on whether developers embed static credentials in software.
PR.DS-01 addresses encryption and integrity of stored data but never touches credential or key management practices, so it neither prevents hard-coded credentials nor removes any of their risk.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Education on secure configuration practices discourages technical staff from embedding or relying on hard-coded credentials in systems and applications.
Secure key-generation, distribution and storage procedures reduce the likelihood that hard-coded or default cryptographic keys will be introduced or left unprotected.
Explicit prohibition of hard-coded passwords and unauthenticated external services stops credentials from being embedded directly in source code.
Contractual requirements for secure coding practices and evidence of testing make it less likely that hard-coded credentials will be introduced or remain undetected in delivered code.