Cyber Resilience

CVE-2025-36247

XXE in Ibm Db2 11.5.0 – 11.5.9

Published
17 February 2026
Modified
18 February 2026
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 7.1
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:L
EPSS Score 0.0030 22th percentile
Risk Priority 53 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2025-36247 is a high-severity Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference (CWE-611) vulnerability in Ibm Db2. Its CVSS base score is 7.1 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked at the 22th 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 SA-11 (Developer Testing and Evaluation) — 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-2025-36247 is an XML external entity injection (XXE) vulnerability, classified under CWE-611, affecting IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX, and Windows, including Db2 Connect Server, in versions 11.5.0 through 11.5.9 and 12.1.0 through 12.1.3. The issue occurs when the software processes XML data, potentially allowing injection of malicious external entities.

A remote attacker with low privileges can exploit this vulnerability over the network with low attack complexity and no user interaction required. Exploitation enables disclosure of sensitive information due to high confidentiality impact or consumption of memory resources resulting in limited availability impact, consistent with the CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.1 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:L).

IBM provides details on mitigation and patches in their security advisory at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7259961.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

IBM Db2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows (includes Db2 Connect Server) 11.5.0 through 11.5.9 and 12.1.0 through 12.1.3 is vulnerable to an XML external entity injection (XXE) attack when processing XML data. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to…

more

expose sensitive information or consume memory resources.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
T1005 Data from Local System Collection
Adversaries may search local system sources, such as file systems, configuration files, local databases, virtual machine files, or process memory, to find files of interest and sensitive data prior to Exfiltration.
T1213 Data from Information Repositories Collection
Adversaries may leverage information repositories to mine valuable information.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-36353Same product: Ibm Db2
CVE-2025-36185Same product: Ibm Db2
CVE-2025-36442Same product: Ibm Db2
CVE-2025-36365Same product: Ibm Db2
CVE-2025-33114Same product: Ibm Db2
CVE-2024-35136Same product: Ibm Db2
CVE-2025-36366Same product: Ibm Db2
CVE-2025-36131Same product: Ibm Db2
CVE-2025-36186Same product: Ibm Db2
CVE-2025-36184Same product: Ibm Db2

Affected Assets

ibm
db2
11.5.0 — 11.5.9 · 11.5.0 — 11.5.9 · 11.5.0 — 11.5.9

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.5.1
  • V15.3.2

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

Secure configuration settings can disable external entity processing in XML parsers.

Developer testing can discover XXE flaws through targeted XML parsing tests.

Input validation can reject or sanitize XML containing external entity references.

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.PS-01 mostly match
prevents

Hardened XML parser configurations directly disable external entity resolution.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices include input validation and safe XML parser configuration that prevent XXE.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability scanning can discover XXE flaws but does not prevent their introduction in code.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Patching eliminates XXE-vulnerable parser versions but is only one aspect of software maintenance.

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.

finds

Security testing in development catches XXE via static analysis and dynamic XML fuzzing.

finds

Vulnerability management identifies and patches XML libraries with unsafe default entity settings.

prevents

Secure development life cycle mandates input validation and entity handling that directly prevents XXE.

prevents

Application security requirements explicitly call for disabling external entity processing in XML parsers.

prevents

Secure architecture principles include safe parser configuration that mitigates external entity risks.

prevents

Secure coding standards require disabling DTDs and external entities in XML processing.

References