CVE-2026-17168
Received Received - Intake

Stack-Based Buffer Overflow in IBM AIX and PowerVM VIOS

Vulnerability report for CVE-2026-17168, including description, CVSS score, EPSS score, affected products, exploitability, helpful resources, and attack-flow context.

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 remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code due to a stack-based buffer overflow.

CVSS Scores

EPSS Scores

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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
EUVD

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 3 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
ibm aix 7.2
ibm aix 7.3
ibm powervm_vios 4.1

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

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

Attack-Flow Graph

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Executive Summary

This is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in IBM AIX 7.2, 7.3, and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1. A remote authenticated attacker could exploit it to execute arbitrary code on the affected system.

Detection Guidance

Detection requires checking for IBM AIX 7.2, 7.3, or PowerVM VIOS 4.1 versions and verifying if stack-based buffer overflow patches are applied. Use system commands like oslevel -s for AIX version and ioslevel for VIOS version. Check IBM security bulletins for specific fixes.

Impact Analysis

An attacker could gain control of the system, steal data, install malware, or disrupt operations. This requires the attacker to already have authenticated remote access.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, potentially violating GDPR or HIPAA compliance. Organizations must address it to maintain regulatory adherence.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply IBM-provided patches or updates for AIX 7.2, 7.3, and PowerVM VIOS 4.1 to address the stack-based buffer overflow. Restrict remote access to authenticated users only and monitor network traffic for suspicious activity.

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