CVE-2025-0165: SQL Injection in IBM watsonx Orchestrate Cartridge — CyberDudeBivash Deep Analysis

Author: CyberDudeBivash

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Executive Summary

CVE-2025-0165 is a high-severity SQL injection flaw affecting IBM watsonx Orchestrate Cartridge for IBM Cloud Pak for Data in versions 4.8.4, 4.8.5, and 5.0.0–5.2.0. Attackers with low privileges can craft malicious queries to view, alter, or delete sensitive database information.

This is particularly impactful given watsonx’s role in AI-driven business automation. An exploit here can undermine confidentiality, integrity, and availability of enterprise workloads.

• CVSS 3.1 Score: 7.6 (High)

• Vulnerability Type: SQL Injection (CWE-89)

• Vector: Remote, low complexity, low privilege required

• Impact: Data theft, corruption, service disruption

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Technical Analysis

Root Cause

• Improper neutralization of user input in SQL statements.

• Insecure query concatenation within the Orchestrate Cartridge modules.

• Affects API calls and workflow automations relying on backend database queries.

CVSS Vector Breakdown

• AV:N — Network exploitable

• AC:L — Low attack complexity

• PR:L — Low privileges required

• UI:N — No user interaction needed

• C:H/I:L/A:L — High confidentiality, low integrity, low availability impact

Attack Path

1. Attacker gains low-privilege access.

2. Malicious SQL payload injected into Orchestrate workflows.

3. Database queries manipulated → sensitive data extracted, altered, or deleted.

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Exploitation Scenarios

1. Data Theft: Sensitive corporate datasets or AI training records exfiltrated.

2. Workflow Sabotage: Orchestrated automation corrupted, leading to business disruption.

3. Persistence: SQLi used to plant backdoors for future access.

4. Compliance Violation: Breaches of GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS due to unauthorized data exposure.

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Affected Versions

• IBM watsonx Orchestrate Cartridge:

  • 4.8.4, 4.8.5

  • 5.0.0 → 5.2.0

Patched in 5.2.0.1 and above.

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Mitigation Strategy

1. Patch Immediately

Upgrade to patched release (≥ 5.2.0.1). IBM advisories should be tracked closely.

2. Input Validation

If patching is delayed, implement strict input sanitization and parameterized queries.

3. Deploy Database Security Layers

• WAF for SQL injection signatures.

• Database Activity Monitoring (DAM) for query anomaly detection.

4. Network Segmentation

Restrict access to Orchestrate APIs to trusted networks.

5. Continuous Monitoring

• Enable verbose SQL query logging.

• Detect anomalous query patterns (bulk SELECT/DELETE).

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CyberDudeBivash Ecosystem Defense

• Threat Analyser App — Detects anomalies in database/API activity.

• Daily CVE Breakdown — Rapid alerting for zero-day & high-impact flaws.

• ThreatWire Newsletter — Executive-level insight into SQLi exploitation trends.

• Affiliate Solutions:

  • CrowdStrike Falcon (affiliate) — detects anomalous behavior across endpoints.

  • Bitdefender Total Security (affiliate) — blocks exploit attempts at runtime.

  • Cloudflare WAF (affiliate) — filters malicious payloads before hitting APIs.

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Conclusion

CVE-2025-0165 reaffirms why SQL injection remains a top global cyber threat despite decades of awareness. Its presence in a critical IBM AI automation tool raises significant enterprise risk.

Organizations running watsonx Orchestrate must:

• Patch immediately to 5.2.0.1+.

• Enforce layered defenses with WAF, DAM, and EDR.

• Continuously monitor for SQL anomalies.

CyberDudeBivash provides the global intelligence, apps, and services needed to detect, prevent, and respond to such attacks in real time.

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