CVE-2026-16951

Received Received - Intake

Heap-based Buffer Overflow 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 authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code due to a heap-based buffer overflow.

CVSS Scores

EPSS Scores

Probability:
Percentile:

Meta Information

Published

2026-08-20

Last Modified

2026-08-20

Generated

2026-08-21

AI Q&A

2026-08-21

EPSS Evaluated

N/A

NVD

CVE-2026-16951

EUVD

EUVD-2026-63695

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendor	Product	Version / Range
ibm	aix	7.2
ibm	aix	7.3
ibm	powervm_vios	4.1

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE

KEV

CWE ID	Description
CWE-787	The product writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.

Attack-Flow Graph

Executive Summary

This is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in IBM AIX 7.2, 7.3, and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1. A local authenticated attacker could exploit it to execute arbitrary code by overwriting memory in the heap.

Impact Analysis

An attacker with local access could gain elevated privileges, install malware, steal data, or disrupt system operations. The impact depends on the attacker's goals and system configuration.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access or data breaches, violating confidentiality requirements in GDPR and HIPAA. Organizations may face fines or penalties if systems are not patched.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply IBM-provided patches or updates for AIX 7.2, 7.3, and PowerVM VIOS 4.1 to address the heap-based buffer overflow issue. Monitor IBM security advisories for updates and restrict local authenticated user access until patches are applied.

Hi! I’m here to help you understand CVE-2026-16951. Ask me anything about the vulnerability, its impact, or mitigation strategies.

0/70