CVE-2026-16894: CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write in IBM AIX
CVE-2026-16894 is a critical vulnerability affecting IBM AIX versions 7.2 and 7.3, as well as IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1. It involves a stack buffer overflow that could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code without any privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability has a high CVSS score of 9.8, indicating severe impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No official patch or remediation guidance is currently provided by the vendor.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
This vulnerability (CVE-2026-16894) is a stack-based buffer overflow (CWE-787) in IBM AIX 7.2, 7.3, and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code due to improper bounds checking on the stack, leading to potential full system compromise. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 9.8 with vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges or user interaction required, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability is publicly disclosed but no patch or official fix has been confirmed yet.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation could lead to remote code execution with full system privileges, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems running IBM AIX 7.2, 7.3, or PowerVM VIOS 4.1. This represents a critical security risk for affected environments.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until an official fix is available, organizations should consider applying network-level protections such as firewall rules to restrict access to vulnerable services and monitor for suspicious activity related to this vulnerability.
CVE-2026-16894: CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write in IBM AIX
Description
CVE-2026-16894 is a critical vulnerability affecting IBM AIX versions 7.2 and 7.3, as well as IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1. It involves a stack buffer overflow that could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code without any privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability has a high CVSS score of 9.8, indicating severe impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No official patch or remediation guidance is currently provided by the vendor.
CVSS v3.1
Score 9.8critical
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
This vulnerability (CVE-2026-16894) is a stack-based buffer overflow (CWE-787) in IBM AIX 7.2, 7.3, and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code due to improper bounds checking on the stack, leading to potential full system compromise. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 9.8 with vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges or user interaction required, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability is publicly disclosed but no patch or official fix has been confirmed yet.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation could lead to remote code execution with full system privileges, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems running IBM AIX 7.2, 7.3, or PowerVM VIOS 4.1. This represents a critical security risk for affected environments.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until an official fix is available, organizations should consider applying network-level protections such as firewall rules to restrict access to vulnerable services and monitor for suspicious activity related to this vulnerability.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- ibm
- Date Reserved
- 2026-07-24T05:24:47.805Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
Threat ID: 6a860d18acd9273b498f9c28
Added to database: 08/19/2026, 20:07:52 UTC
Last enriched: 08/19/2026, 20:22:46 UTC
Last updated: 08/20/2026, 02:32:09 UTC
Views: 5
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