CVE-2026-18509: CWE-285 Improper Authorization
CVE-2026-18509 is a high-severity vulnerability in IBM i versions 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, and 7.6. It allows a local authenticated attacker to escalate privileges via the Navigator for i debugger. Successful exploitation could enable unauthorized access or manipulation of sensitive system data and creation of new profiles with elevated privileges.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
This vulnerability (CWE-285: Improper Authorization) affects IBM i versions 7.3 through 7.6. A local attacker with authentication can exploit the Navigator for i debugger to escalate privileges. The flaw allows the attacker to gain higher-level access than intended, potentially compromising confidentiality and integrity by accessing or modifying sensitive data and creating privileged user profiles.
Potential Impact
An authenticated local attacker can escalate privileges, leading to unauthorized access and manipulation of sensitive data on the IBM i system. The attacker may also create new user profiles with elevated privileges, increasing the risk of further system compromise. The CVSS score of 8.2 reflects high impact on confidentiality and integrity, with no impact on availability.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. No official fix or temporary workaround has been documented at this time. Until a patch is available, restrict local authenticated access to trusted users only and monitor for suspicious activity related to the Navigator for i debugger.
CVE-2026-18509: CWE-285 Improper Authorization
Description
CVE-2026-18509 is a high-severity vulnerability in IBM i versions 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, and 7.6. It allows a local authenticated attacker to escalate privileges via the Navigator for i debugger. Successful exploitation could enable unauthorized access or manipulation of sensitive system data and creation of new profiles with elevated privileges.
CVSS v3.1
Score 8.2high
Affected software
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:i:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:i:7.6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:i:7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:i:7.5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:i:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:i:7.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
This vulnerability (CWE-285: Improper Authorization) affects IBM i versions 7.3 through 7.6. A local attacker with authentication can exploit the Navigator for i debugger to escalate privileges. The flaw allows the attacker to gain higher-level access than intended, potentially compromising confidentiality and integrity by accessing or modifying sensitive data and creating privileged user profiles.
Potential Impact
An authenticated local attacker can escalate privileges, leading to unauthorized access and manipulation of sensitive data on the IBM i system. The attacker may also create new user profiles with elevated privileges, increasing the risk of further system compromise. The CVSS score of 8.2 reflects high impact on confidentiality and integrity, with no impact on availability.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. No official fix or temporary workaround has been documented at this time. Until a patch is available, restrict local authenticated access to trusted users only and monitor for suspicious activity related to the Navigator for i debugger.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- ibm
- Date Reserved
- 2026-07-31T17:16:23.194Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
Threat ID: 6a7e2fb3bf8831d539cb5cd5
Added to database: 08/13/2026, 20:57:23 UTC
Last enriched: 08/13/2026, 21:11:24 UTC
Last updated: 08/13/2026, 23:47:35 UTC
Views: 3
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