CVE-2026-16842: CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') in IBM AIX
CVE-2026-16842 is a high-severity vulnerability in IBM AIX versions 7.2 and 7.3, as well as IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1, that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands. This occurs due to improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, classified as CWE-78 OS Command Injection. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8, indicating high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No official patch or remediation guidance is currently provided by IBM. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
IBM AIX 7.2 and 7.3, along with IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1, contain an OS command injection vulnerability (CWE-78) that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands due to improper neutralization of special elements in OS commands. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2026-16842 with a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 (AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating that it can be exploited remotely with low attack complexity and no privileges or user interaction required. The vulnerability affects exactly versions 7.2 and 7.3 of IBM AIX. No official patch or remediation level has been published by IBM as of the current data. No known active exploitation has been reported.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands on affected IBM AIX systems, leading to full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system. This can result in unauthorized data access, system manipulation, and denial of service.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the IBM vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until an official fix is released, monitor IBM security advisories for updates. No vendor-provided temporary or official fixes are currently documented.
CVE-2026-16842: CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') in IBM AIX
Description
CVE-2026-16842 is a high-severity vulnerability in IBM AIX versions 7.2 and 7.3, as well as IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1, that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands. This occurs due to improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, classified as CWE-78 OS Command Injection. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8, indicating high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No official patch or remediation guidance is currently provided by IBM. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time.
CVSS v3.1
Score 8.8high
Affected software
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:powervm_vios:4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:powervm_vios:4.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*Run on your own infrastructure? Check whether these packages are installed with threat-finder — our free open-source scanner.
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
IBM AIX 7.2 and 7.3, along with IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1, contain an OS command injection vulnerability (CWE-78) that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands due to improper neutralization of special elements in OS commands. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2026-16842 with a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 (AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating that it can be exploited remotely with low attack complexity and no privileges or user interaction required. The vulnerability affects exactly versions 7.2 and 7.3 of IBM AIX. No official patch or remediation level has been published by IBM as of the current data. No known active exploitation has been reported.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS commands on affected IBM AIX systems, leading to full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system. This can result in unauthorized data access, system manipulation, and denial of service.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the IBM vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until an official fix is released, monitor IBM security advisories for updates. No vendor-provided temporary or official fixes are currently documented.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- ibm
- Date Reserved
- 2026-07-24T03:04:50.925Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
Threat ID: 6a86098facd9273b498b4bfd
Added to database: 08/19/2026, 19:52:47 UTC
Last enriched: 08/19/2026, 20:09:43 UTC
Last updated: 08/19/2026, 22:16:45 UTC
Views: 4
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