CVE-2024-56346 is a critical vulnerability identified in IBM AIX operating system versions 7.2 and 7.3, specifically affecting the nimesis NIM master service. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-114, which pertains to improper process control. This flaw allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system without requiring any authentication or user interaction. The root cause is the improper handling of process control within the NIM master service, which can be exploited remotely over the network. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 10.0, reflecting the highest severity level, with attack vector being network (AV:N), attack complexity low (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and scope changed (S:C). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is complete (C:H/I:H/A:H), meaning an attacker can fully compromise the system. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability's characteristics make it highly exploitable. The NIM (Network Installation Manager) master service is a critical component for managing AIX system installations and configurations, thus compromising it can lead to full system takeover. The vulnerability was published on March 18, 2025, and IBM has not yet released patches or mitigations at the time of this report.

The impact of CVE-2024-56346 is severe and far-reaching. Successful exploitation allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the NIM master service, potentially leading to full system compromise. This can result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of critical services, and the ability to deploy further malware or ransomware. Organizations relying on IBM AIX 7.2 and 7.3 for critical infrastructure, including financial institutions, government agencies, and large enterprises, face significant operational and reputational risks. The vulnerability’s network accessibility and lack of authentication requirements increase the likelihood of exploitation, potentially enabling widespread attacks. Additionally, the compromise of NIM master services can disrupt system provisioning and management, causing cascading failures in IT environments. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the critical nature demands immediate attention to avoid exploitation by threat actors once exploit code becomes available.

1. Immediate network-level controls: Restrict access to the NIM master service to trusted management networks only, using firewalls and network segmentation to minimize exposure. 2. Monitor and log: Implement enhanced monitoring of NIM master service logs and network traffic for unusual or unauthorized command execution attempts. 3. Apply vendor patches: Prioritize deployment of official IBM patches or updates as soon as they are released. 4. Temporary workarounds: If patches are unavailable, consider disabling or limiting the NIM master service functionality where feasible, or applying configuration changes to reduce attack surface. 5. Incident response readiness: Prepare incident response plans specifically addressing potential exploitation scenarios of this vulnerability. 6. Access controls: Enforce strict access controls and least privilege principles on systems running AIX to limit the impact of any compromise. 7. Vulnerability scanning: Regularly scan AIX environments to identify vulnerable versions and ensure timely remediation. 8. Security awareness: Educate system administrators on the risks and signs of exploitation related to this vulnerability.