CVE-2026-16925
Received Received - Intake

Privilege Escalation in IBM AIX and PowerVM VIOS

Publication date: 2026-08-20

Last updated on: 2026-08-20

Assigner: IBM Corporation

Description
IBM AIX 7.2, and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1 could allow a local attacker to achieve privilege escalation due to improper authorization.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-08-20
Last Modified
2026-08-20
Generated
2026-08-20
AI Q&A
2026-08-20
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-16925
EUVD
EUVD-2026-63385

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 3 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
ibm aix From 7.2 (inc)
ibm aix From 7.3 (inc)
ibm powervm_vios From 4.1 (inc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-285 The product does not perform or incorrectly performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action.

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Executive Summary

This vulnerability in IBM AIX 7.2, 7.3, and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1 allows a local attacker to escalate privileges due to improper authorization checks. This means an attacker with local access could gain higher-level permissions than intended, potentially taking control of the system.

Detection Guidance

Detection requires checking for improper authorization issues in IBM AIX 7.2, 7.3, or PowerVM VIOS 4.1. Review system logs for privilege escalation attempts and verify user permissions. IBM provides specific detection steps in their advisory at the provided URL.

Impact Analysis

If exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to perform unauthorized actions on the affected system, such as accessing sensitive data, modifying system configurations, or installing malicious software. This could lead to data breaches, system instability, or complete system compromise.

Compliance Impact

The vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges due to improper authorization in IBM AIX and PowerVM VIOS. This could lead to unauthorized access or control, potentially violating data protection requirements under GDPR or HIPAA by exposing sensitive information or systems.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply IBM-provided patches or updates for AIX 7.2, 7.3, and PowerVM VIOS 4.1 to address improper authorization issues. Monitor IBM security advisories for fixes and restrict local user access until patches are applied.

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