CVE-2026-18097: IBM Db2 plain text password logging in trace files

CVE-2026-18097 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5.5 · Published 2026-08-12

IBM Db2 is a widely used database system for enterprise data management. A vulnerability causes the database to record login credentials in plain text within diagnostic trace files. A local attacker with system access can read these files to steal database passwords, leading to unauthorized data access and potential breach of sensitive customer or business information.

Technologies: IBM Db2, IBM DB2 Connect Server. Vendors: IBM.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2026-18097 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-18097 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-18097?
Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5.5, published 12 August 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
IBM Db2 11.5.0 through 11.5.9, 12.1.0 through 12.1.5 for Linux, UNIX, Windows, and IBM Z Systems; IBM DB2 Connect Server 11.5.0 through 11.5.9, 12.1.0 through 12.1.5.
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-18097?
No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.
How is CVE-2026-18097 attacked?
It is attacked with local access, in a hosted service.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-18097?
Check whether you run IBM Db2 or IBM DB2 Connect Server at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

Technical details

This vulnerability is an instance of CWE-532 (Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File). The root cause is that IBM Db2 logs plain text database credentials into trace files during operation. An attacker with local system access and standard user privileges can read these diagnostic files and extract authentication credentials. No authentication to the database or user interaction is required for exploitation—only the ability to access the file system locally. The vulnerability affects all supported editions on Linux, UNIX, Windows, and IBM Z Systems. IBM has released security updates available through Fix Central: V11.5.9 (Security Update #87984 or later) and V12.1.4–V12.1.5 (Security Update #86025 or later for V12.1.4, and #88454 or later for V12.1.5).

Affected products

  • IBM Db2 11.5.0 through 11.5.9, 12.1.0 through 12.1.5 for Linux, UNIX, Windows, and IBM Z Systems
  • IBM Db2 Connect Server 11.5.0 through 11.5.9, 12.1.0 through 12.1.5

Timeline

  • 2026-08-12: disclosed: CVE-2026-18097 publicly disclosed
  • 2026-08-07: advisory: IBM security bulletin initially published

References

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