CVE-2026-15961
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IBM PowerVM Hypervisor Format String Vulnerability

Publication date: 2026-08-19

Last updated on: 2026-08-25

Assigner: IBM Corporation

Description
IBM PowerVM Hypervisor FW1120.00, FW1110.00 through FW1110.30, and FW1060.00 through FW1060.80 IBM PowerVM could allow a local attacker to obtain sensitive information or cause a denial of service due to improper control of format strings.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-08-19
Last Modified
2026-08-25
Generated
2026-09-09
AI Q&A
2026-08-19
EPSS Evaluated
2026-09-07
NVD
CVE-2026-15961
EUVD
EUVD-2026-62429

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 27 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
ibm power_system_s1122_(9824-22a)_firmware From fw1110.00 (inc) to fw1110.31 (exc)
ibm power_system_s1122_(9824-22a)_firmware fw1120.00
ibm power_system_s1124_(9824-42a)_firmware From fw1110.00 (inc) to fw1110.31 (exc)
ibm power_system_s1124_(9824-42a)_firmware fw1120.00
ibm power_system_s1122s_(9824-22b)_firmware From fw1110.00 (inc) to fw1110.31 (exc)
ibm power_system_s1122s_(9824-22b)_firmware fw1120.00
ibm power_system_s1114_(9824-41b)_firmware From fw1110.00 (inc) to fw1110.31 (exc)
ibm power_system_s1114_(9824-41b)_firmware fw1120.00
ibm power_system_l1122_(9856-22h)_firmware From fw1110.00 (inc) to fw1110.31 (exc)
ibm power_system_l1122_(9856-22h)_firmware fw1120.00
ibm power_system_l1124_(9856-42h)_firmware From fw1110.00 (inc) to fw1110.31 (exc)
ibm power_system_l1124_(9856-42h)_firmware fw1120.00
ibm power_system_e1150_(9043-mru)_firmware From fw1110.00 (inc) to fw1110.31 (exc)
ibm power_system_e1150_(9043-mru)_firmware fw1120.00
ibm power_system_s1112_(9242-21b)_firmware fw1120.00
ibm power_system_s1112_(9242-21t)_firmware fw1120.00
ibm power_system_e1080_(9080-hex)_firmware From fw1060.00 (inc) to fw1060.81 (exc)
ibm power_system_s1022_(9105-22a)_firmware From fw1060.00 (inc) to fw1060.81 (exc)
ibm power_system_s1024_(9105-42a)_firmware From fw1060.00 (inc) to fw1060.81 (exc)
ibm power_system_s1022s_(9105-22b)_firmware From fw1060.00 (inc) to fw1060.81 (exc)
ibm power_system_s1014_(9105-41b)_firmware From fw1060.00 (inc) to fw1060.81 (exc)
ibm power_system_l1022_(9786-22h)_firmware From fw1060.00 (inc) to fw1060.81 (exc)
ibm power_system_l1024_(9786-42h)_firmware From fw1060.00 (inc) to fw1060.81 (exc)
ibm power_system_e1050_(9043-mrx)_firmware From fw1060.00 (inc) to fw1060.81 (exc)
ibm power_system_s1012_(9028-21b)_firmware From fw1060.00 (inc) to fw1060.81 (exc)
ibm power_system_e1180_(9080-heu)_firmware From fw1110.00 (inc) to fw1110.31 (exc)
ibm power_system_e1180_(9080-heu)_firmware fw1120.00

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-134 The product uses a function that accepts a format string as an argument, but the format string originates from an external source.

Attack-Flow Graph

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Executive Summary

CVE-2026-15961 is a format string vulnerability in IBM PowerVM Hypervisor firmware. A local attacker could exploit improper format string handling to read sensitive information or crash the system, leading to a denial of service. The flaw exists in specific firmware versions of PowerVM Hypervisor.

Detection Guidance

Detecting this vulnerability requires checking the firmware version of IBM PowerVM Hypervisor. Compare your system's firmware against affected versions: FW1120.00, FW1110.00 through FW1110.30, and FW1060.00 through FW1060.80. Use IBM's tools or commands like 'lsmcode' on AIX or 'systemctl' on Linux to list firmware versions.

Impact Analysis

If you use IBM Power Systems with affected PowerVM Hypervisor firmware versions, an attacker with local access could steal data or disrupt operations. This may lead to unauthorized information disclosure or system unavailability. The impact depends on attacker privileges and system configuration.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized data access, violating confidentiality requirements in GDPR and HIPAA. Organizations may face compliance violations if sensitive data is exposed due to the flaw. Proper mitigation via firmware updates is necessary to maintain compliance.

Mitigation Strategies

Install the latest firmware updates provided by IBM, such as FW1110.31, FW1120.01, or FW1060.81, depending on your current version. Ensure no workarounds are applied and subscribe to IBM security bulletins for future updates.

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