High severity · published Jan 20, 2026
CVE-2025-12985
License Service: Privilege escalation vulnerability
8.4
CVSS
0.1%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
IBM Licensing Operator incorrectly assigns privileges to security critical files which could allow a local root escalation inside a container running the IBM Licensing Operator image.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.1% · higher than 4% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
IL
IBM Licensing Operator · IBM
9.0.0; 9.0.1; 9.1.0; 9.2.0 · source: vendor
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-12985
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-12985
www.ibm.com
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/license-service-privilege-escalation-vulnerability
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