# CVE-2026-81208: IBM DataStage credential decryption oracle in Cloud Pak for Data

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-81208-ibm-datastage-on-cloud-pak-for-data-5-4-0-0-could-allow-an  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-23. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-81208 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.7 · Published 2026-09-23

IBM DataStage, a data integration component of Cloud Pak for Data, contains a flaw in how it handles encrypted credentials. An authenticated attacker can decrypt any stored connection password, Git token, or API key belonging to other users or tenants in the same region by abusing a decryption endpoint—effectively obtaining the master encryption key. This allows cross-tenant credential theft without needing to compromise the infrastructure itself.

Technologies: [IBM DataStage](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/datastage). Vendors: [IBM](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/ibm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-81208 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-81208 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-81208?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.7, published 23 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** IBM DataStage 5.4.0.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-81208?** 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-2026-81208 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-81208?** Check whether you run IBM DataStage 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

The vulnerability is a decryption oracle in the pull endpoint that decrypts {dsnextenc}/{encval} blobs using a shared, never-rotated cluster-wide DSNEXT_SEC_KEY and re-encrypts them under attacker-supplied parameters. This is functionally equivalent to key extraction. The attack requires authenticated network access and knowledge of encrypted credential material, but the product itself intentionally exposes ciphertext, making the second precondition trivial. The shared key and lack of key rotation enable cross-tenant exploitation.

## Affected products

- IBM DataStage 5.4.0.0

## Timeline

- 2026-09-23: disclosed

## References

- [https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7288649](https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7288649)

## Related threats

- [IBM DataStage path traversal arbitrary file deletion](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-81542-ibm-datastage-on-cloud-pak-for-data-5-4-0-0-could-allow-a-remote)
- [IBM DataStage path traversal arbitrary file write](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-16427-ibm-datastage-on-cloud-pak-for-data-5-4-0-0-could-allow-a-remote)
- [IBM DataStage path traversal in Cloud Pak for Data](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-82094-ibm-datastage-on-cloud-pak-for-data-5-4-0-0-could-allow-a-remote)
- [IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data command injection via environment variables](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-81552-ibm-datastage-on-cloud-pak-for-data-5-4-0-0-could-allow-a-remote)
- [IBM DataStage command injection in Cloud Pak for Data](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-81545-ibm-datastage-on-cloud-pak-for-data-5-4-0-0-could-allow-a-remote)