Overview
The vulnerability in focus, CVE-2025-33108, is a critical security flaw affecting IBM’s Backup, Recovery and Media Services (BRMS) for i 7.4 and 7.5. This vulnerability could potentially allow a user with the capability to compile or restore a program to gain elevated privileges due to a library unqualified call made by a BRMS program. This flaw could be exploited by a malicious actor to execute user-controlled code with component access to the host operating system, thereby creating a potential for system compromise or data leakage. Given the high severity of this vulnerability, it is crucial for system administrators and IT security professionals to understand the implications of this flaw and act promptly to mitigate its potential impact.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-33108
Severity: High (8.5 – CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
IBM Backup, Recovery and Media Services for i | 7.4, 7.5
How the Exploit Works
The CVE-2025-33108 vulnerability arises from an unqualified library call made by a BRMS program. In the context of computing, an unqualified call refers to a function call that does not specify the library in which the function resides. If a user has the authority to compile or restore a program, this unqualified call could be manipulated to make the system carry out user-controlled code. As a result, the user could potentially gain elevated privileges and gain control over the host operating system, creating a significant security risk.
Conceptual Example Code
Given the nature of the vulnerability, the exploit would likely involve manipulation of the unqualified call at the program level. Below is an example of what this might look like:
#include <iostream>
#include <library.h>
int main() {
// Unqualified call to function 'vulnerableFunc' in the library
vulnerableFunc("user-controlled code");
}In this example, `vulnerableFunc` is an unqualified call, and the argument is user-controlled code. If the user has the authority to compile or restore a program, they can manipulate the call to execute their code with elevated privileges.
Please remember that this is a conceptual example and does not represent an actual exploit. The purpose of this illustration is to provide a general understanding of how the vulnerability may be exploited.