IBM has recently disclosed a significant security vulnerability in its Watsonx Orchestrate Cartridge for IBM Cloud Pak for Data, identified as CVE-2025-0165. This blind SQL injection flaw poses a substantial risk, potentially allowing remote attackers with low-level privileges to execute unauthorized SQL commands, thereby compromising sensitive backend databases.
Understanding the Vulnerability
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the inadequate sanitization of user inputs within the Orchestrate Cartridge’s query processing engine. Specifically, the system fails to properly neutralize special SQL elements before incorporating them into dynamic queries. This oversight aligns with CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command (‘SQL Injection’).
An attacker could exploit this flaw by crafting malicious SQL payloads and submitting them through exposed API endpoints. Such exploitation could lead to:
– Unauthorized access to confidential records
– Alteration of user permissions
– Deletion of critical data
– Insertion of malicious entries
The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.6, indicating high severity. The CVSS vector (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L) suggests that the flaw is exploitable over a network with low attack complexity and does not require user interaction, though it does necessitate authenticated access with low-level privileges.
Affected Versions
The following versions of the IBM Watsonx Orchestrate Cartridge for IBM Cloud Pak for Data are impacted:
– Versions 4.8.4 through 4.8.5
– Versions 5.0.0 through 5.2
Recommended Actions
IBM strongly advises all users to upgrade to version 5.2.0.1 of the Watsonx Orchestrate Cartridge without delay. This update addresses the vulnerability by implementing stringent input validation and parameterized queries, effectively neutralizing potential SQL injection attempts.
As of now, IBM has not provided any workarounds or temporary mitigations, underscoring the urgency of applying the patch. Organizations are also encouraged to:
– Review database logs for any unusual query patterns
– Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) configured with SQL injection detection rules
– Enforce the principle of least privilege for service accounts
By proactively addressing CVE-2025-0165, organizations can protect their AI-driven orchestration workflows from unauthorized data manipulation and ensure adherence to security best practices.
