CVE-2025-14917
Ibm Websphere Application Server 17.0.0.3 – 26.0.0.4
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HSummary
CVE-2025-14917 is a medium-severity Use of Default Password (CWE-1393) vulnerability in Ibm Websphere Application Server. Its CVSS base score is 6.7 (Medium).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Default Accounts (T1078.001); ranked at the 28th 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 CM-6 (Configuration Settings) and IA-5 (Authenticator 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.
CVE-2025-14917 is a vulnerability in IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty versions 17.0.0.3 through 26.0.0.3 that could provide weaker than expected security when administering security settings. Published on 2026-03-25, it is associated with CWE-1393 and carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.7 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
The vulnerability can be exploited by a local attacker requiring high privileges on the affected system. With low attack complexity and no user interaction needed, a successful exploit enables high-impact consequences, including unauthorized access to confidential data, modification of system integrity, and disruption of availability.
IBM has issued a security advisory with details on the issue and recommended mitigations at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7267362.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-209021
Vulnerability Data
IBM WebSphere Application Server - Liberty 17.0.0.3 through 26.0.0.3 IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty could provide weaker than expected security when administering security settings.
- 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 verification of identity at initial distribution and secure handling that directly stops default passwords from remaining in use.
Configuration settings establish the most restrictive secure baselines, which include changing or disabling default passwords.
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.
Credential management directly requires replacing default passwords with unique, strong credentials.
Hardened configuration baselines explicitly prohibit default passwords, covering most of the weakness but not all identity-management aspects.
Vulnerability scanning will discover default-password instances, enabling remediation, yet does not itself prevent their initial use.
Authentication policies can enforce non-default passwords but do not address the full scope of credential lifecycle.
Authorization policies assume credentials already exist and are not default; least-privilege helps limit impact but does not prevent defaults.
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.
Mandates secure handling and change of authentication secrets, directly addressing default passwords.
Configuration management processes typically enforce changing defaults during hardening.
Requires secure authentication mechanisms, which includes replacing or disabling default credentials.
Utility programs often ship with defaults; control requires secure configuration before use.
Privileged accounts must not retain factory passwords, reducing risk of default-credential abuse.