IBM

The incident involves a **403 Forbidden** error on an IBM web page, indicating unauthorized access or a misconfigured security restriction. While the error itself does not explicitly detail a cyberattack, it may suggest a potential **access control vulnerability** or an unintended exposure of internal systems. If exploited, such vulnerabilities could allow attackers to probe deeper into IBM’s infrastructure, potentially leading to data exposure or service disruptions. The incident reference number (18.561e1202.1762842001.646fd49b) implies internal tracking, but no public details confirm data breaches or operational impact. However, unaddressed access flaws could escalate into broader security risks, including credential stuffing, API abuses, or reconnaissance for targeted attacks. IBM’s global scale means even minor vulnerabilities could have cascading effects if left unresolved.

Source: https://www.ibm.com/think/news/whose-data-breach-is-it-anyway

IBM cybersecurity rating report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/ibm

"id": "ibm3762037111125",
"linkid": "ibm",
"type": "Vulnerability",
"date": "5/2025",
"severity": "25",
"impact": "",
"explanation": "Attack without any consequences: Attack in which data is not compromised"

{'affected_entities': [{'industry': 'technology',
                        'location': 'global (HQ: Armonk, New York, USA)',
                        'name': 'IBM',
                        'size': 'large',
                        'type': 'corporation'}],
 'description': 'A 403 Forbidden error was encountered when attempting to '
                'access an IBM page. Incident Number: '
                '18.561e1202.1762842001.646fd49b. The page could not be '
                'displayed, possibly due to access restrictions, misconfigured '
                'permissions, or a security measure (e.g., WAF blocking, IP '
                'restriction, or authentication failure).',
 'impact': {'brand_reputation_impact': 'low (unless recurrent or part of a '
                                       'larger pattern)',
            'downtime': 'temporary (until access is restored or issue is '
                        'resolved)',
            'operational_impact': 'minor (limited to inability to access a '
                                  'specific page)',
            'systems_affected': ['IBM webpage (unspecified)']},
 'investigation_status': 'unconfirmed (could be a false positive or legitimate '
                         'access restriction)',
 'post_incident_analysis': {'corrective_actions': ['audit security rules',
                                                   'improve user guidance for '
                                                   'errors',
                                                   'log and monitor 403 events '
                                                   'for anomalies'],
                            'root_causes': ['potential WAF/ACL '
                                            'misconfiguration',
                                            'incorrect URL input',
                                            'session/cookie expiration',
                                            'IP-based restriction']},
 'recommendations': ['Implement proper error handling for 403 pages to avoid '
                     'confusion with security incidents.',
                     'Review access control lists (ACLs) and web application '
                     'firewall (WAF) rules to prevent false positives.',
                     'Ensure clear communication channels for users '
                     'encountering access issues.'],
 'references': [{'source': 'IBM Error Page'}],
 'response': {'recovery_measures': ['restore access via IT support',
                                    'update security policies if '
                                    'misconfigured'],
              'remediation_measures': ['verify URL correctness',
                                       'check access permissions',
                                       'review WAF/ACL rules',
                                       'clear cache/cookies']},
 'type': ['access_denial', 'potential_security_control_trigger']}