CVE-2025-13688
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedIBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.1.2 through 5.3.0 could allow an authenticated user to execute arbitrary commands with normal user privileges on the system due to improper validation of user supplied input through the wrapped command component.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · moderate confidenceIBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data versions 5.1.2 through 5.3.0 contains a command injection vulnerability in the wrapped command component. An authenticated user can execute arbitrary system commands with normal user privileges due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input, allowing an attacker to inject OS-level commands through the application.
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.
NVD · CPE data>= 5.1.2, < 5.3.1CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
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Identify if IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data is installedCheck for DataStage installation by querying the Cloud Pak for Data platform version, typically via the CP4D console or by running: kubectl get pods -n <namespace> | grep -i datastageAffected if DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data is present in the environment
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Determine the installed DataStage versionQuery the DataStage operator or operand version via kubectl get datastage -n <namespace> or check the operator catalog. Also check the Cloud Pak for Data version displayed in the admin console.Affected if The installed version falls within >= 5.1.2 and < 5.3.1 (vulnerable)
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Check if the wrapped command component is in useReview DataStage job configurations for any jobs that utilize the wrapped command feature. This feature allows wrapping OS commands within DataStage jobs. Check job definitions and look for command execution patterns in job logs.Affected if Wrapped command functionality is enabled or configured in any DataStage jobs
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Audit for suspicious command executionReview DataStage job logs, audit logs, and system process logs for unexpected commands, particularly those containing shell metacharacters (;, |, &&, backticks, $()) or unusual executable invocations originating from DataStage execution contexts.Affected if Evidence of arbitrary command execution in logs or unexpected processes running under DataStage service accounts
The environment is affected if IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data is running version 5.1.2 through 5.3.0 and the wrapped command feature is accessible to authenticated users.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
dbcve · scoped5.3.1
Apply IBM's security patch or upgrade to a version beyond 5.3.0 once available. Until then, restrict DataStage user access to only trusted personnel and monitor for suspicious command execution patterns.
5.3.1
- Review the IBM Cloud Pak for Data upgrade documentation for your deployment method
- Plan the upgrade considering your current configuration and any prerequisites for version 5.3.1
- Back up your current DataStage configurations and any custom setups
- Upgrade IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data to version 5.3.1 or later
- After upgrade, verify that the wrapped command component properly validates user input
- Test that authenticated users can no longer inject arbitrary commands through the wrapped command component
Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.
- Consultation4.0 h
- Implementation8.0 h
- Testing8.0 h
- Review / QA4.0 h
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Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2025-13688 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2025-13688 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
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- Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
- No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
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