CVE-2026-16888: CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') in IBM AIX
Description
CVE-2026-16888 is a path traversal vulnerability affecting IBM AIX versions 7.2 and 7.3, as well as IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1. This flaw could allow a remote attacker to access sensitive information by improperly limiting pathname access to restricted directories. The vulnerability has a low severity rating with a CVSS score of 3.7.
CVSS v3.1
Score 3.7low
Affected software
IBM
AIX
IBM
PowerVM VIOS
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, 7.3, and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1 contain a CWE-22 path traversal vulnerability that could allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by bypassing pathname restrictions to access files outside intended directories. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 3.7, reflecting low impact with network attack vector, high attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and limited confidentiality impact. No known exploits are reported in the wild. No patch or remediation details are provided in the source data.
Potential Impact
The vulnerability could allow remote attackers to read sensitive information by exploiting improper pathname restrictions. The impact is limited to confidentiality with no integrity or availability effects. The low CVSS score indicates limited risk under typical conditions.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the IBM vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. No official fix or workaround details are provided in the available data. Organizations using affected versions should monitor IBM security advisories for updates.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- ibm
- Date Reserved
- 2026-07-24T05:05:29.021Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6a86e0f8acd9273b4983859a
Added to database: 08/20/2026, 11:11:52 UTC
Last enriched: 09/11/2026, 05:04:05 UTC
Last updated: 10/05/2026, 06:48:14 UTC
Views: 55
Community Reviews
0 reviewsCrowdsource mitigation strategies, share intel context, and vote on the most helpful responses. Sign in to add your voice and help keep defenders ahead.
Want to contribute mitigation steps or threat intel context? Sign in or create an account to join the community discussion.
Actions
Updates to AI analysis require Pro Console access. Upgrade inside Console → Billing.
External Links
Need more coverage?
Upgrade to Pro Console for AI refresh and higher limits.
For incident response and remediation, OffSeq services can help resolve threats faster.
Latest Threats
Check if your credentials are on the dark web
Instant breach scanning across billions of leaked records. Free tier available.