{"dataType": "CVE_RECORD", "dataVersion": "5.2", "cveMetadata": {"cveId": "CVE-2026-16991", "assignerOrgId": "9a959283-ebb5-44b6-b705-dcc2bbced522", "state": "PUBLISHED", "assignerShortName": "ibm", "dateReserved": "2026-07-24T08:50:35.568Z", "datePublished": "2026-08-20T21:47:26.487Z", "dateUpdated": "2026-08-20T21:47:26.487Z"}, "containers": {"cna": {"providerMetadata": {"orgId": "9a959283-ebb5-44b6-b705-dcc2bbced522", "shortName": "ibm", "dateUpdated": "2026-08-20T21:47:26.487Z"}, "title": "Vulnerabilities in IBM AIX and PowerVM VIOS", "problemTypes": [{"descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "cweId": "CWE-269", "description": "CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management", "type": "CWE"}]}], "affected": [{"vendor": "IBM", "product": "AIX", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "7.2"}, {"status": "affected", "version": "7.3"}], "cpes": ["cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*"]}, {"vendor": "IBM", "product": "PowerVM VIOS", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "4.1"}], "cpes": ["cpe:2.3:a:ibm:powervm_vios:4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "cpe:2.3:a:ibm:powervm_vios:4.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*"]}], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "IBM AIX 7.2, and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1 could allow a local attacker to gain elevated privileges due to improper handling of symbolic links.", "supportingMedia": [{"type": "text/html", "base64": false, "value": "<p>IBM AIX 7.2, and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1 could allow a local attacker to gain elevated privileges due to improper handling of symbolic links.</p>"}]}], "references": [{"url": "https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283858", "tags": ["vendor-advisory", "patch"]}], "metrics": [{"format": "CVSS", "scenarios": [{"lang": "en", "value": "GENERAL"}], "cvssV3_1": {"version": "3.1", "attackVector": "LOCAL", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "userInteraction": "NONE", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH", "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "baseScore": 7.8, "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"}}], "solutions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "A.\u00a0 APARS\n\n\n\nIBM has assigned the following APARs to this problem:\n\nAIX LevelAPARAvailability\u00a0\u00a0SPKEY7.2.5IJ5956608/14/2026SP13key_w_apar7.3.2IJ5956508/14/2026SP05key_w_apar7.3.3IJ5956408/14/2026SP03key_w_apar7.3.4IJ59563\u00a008/14/2026SP02key_w_apar\n\n\n\n\n\nVIOS LevelAPARAvailability\u00a0SPKEY4.1.0IJ5956508/14/20264.1.0.50key_w_apar4.1.1IJ5956408/14/20264.1.1.30key_w_apar4.1.2IJ5956308/14/20264.1.2.20key_w_apar\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nB.\u00a0 FIXES\n\n\n\nIBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability now.\n\n\n\n\u00a0AIX and VIOS fixes are available and can be downloaded from Fix Central: https://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral \n\n\n\n\u00a0An LPAR reboot is required to complete the SP/FP update. On AIX, Live Update can be used to avoid a reboot.\n\n\n\n\u00a0IBM has assigned the following AIX Service Packs (SPs) and VIOS Fix Packs (FPs) as the remediation levels for the published vulnerabilities.\n\nAIX Level\u00a0Service PackAIX 7.3 TL04SP2AIX 7.3 TL03SP3AIX 7.3 TL02SP5AIX 7.2 TL05\u00a0SP13\n\n\n\n\n\nPowerVM VIOS LevelFix PackVIOS 4.1.2\u00a04.1.2.20VIOS 4.1.1\u00a04.1.1.30VIOS 4.1.0\u00a0\u00a04.1.0.50\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNote: These SPs/FPs are cumulative and include fixes for all previously published AIX/VIOS security vulnerabilities. They can be applied on top of any earlier affected level of the TL .\n\n\n\nNote: To apply these patches using nimsh secure, special steps must be taken as the protocol between master and client is updated to be more secure. Please read this article:\n https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283157 \n\n\n\nNote: For VIOS 4.1.0 and VIOS 4.1.1, additional steps are required to migrate to the latest Postgres15 after applying the 4.1.1.30 or 4.1.0.50 FPs above. Instructions to do that can be found here:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\n\n\n\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 4.1.0.50 post-update instructions: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283819 \n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 4.1.1.30 post-update instructions: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283823", "supportingMedia": [{"type": "text/html", "base64": false, "value": "<p><strong>A.\u00a0 APARS</strong></p><p>IBM has assigned the following APARs to this problem:</p><div><table><colgroup><col/><col/><col/><col/><col/></colgroup><tbody><tr><td><strong>AIX Level</strong></td><td><strong>APAR</strong></td><td><strong>Availability\u00a0\u00a0</strong></td><td><strong>SP</strong></td><td><strong>KEY</strong></td></tr><tr><td>7.2.5</td><td>IJ59566</td><td>08/14/2026</td><td>SP13</td><td>key_w_apar</td></tr><tr><td>7.3.2</td><td>IJ59565</td><td>08/14/2026</td><td>SP05</td><td>key_w_apar</td></tr><tr><td>7.3.3</td><td>IJ59564</td><td>08/14/2026</td><td>SP03</td><td>key_w_apar</td></tr><tr><td>7.3.4</td><td>IJ59563\u00a0</td><td>08/14/2026</td><td>SP02</td><td>key_w_apar</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p></p><div><table><colgroup><col/><col/><col/><col/><col/></colgroup><tbody><tr><td><strong>VIOS Level</strong></td><td><strong>APAR</strong></td><td><strong>Availability\u00a0</strong></td><td><strong>SP</strong></td><td><strong>KEY</strong></td></tr><tr><td>4.1.0</td><td>IJ59565</td><td>08/14/2026</td><td>4.1.0.50</td><td>key_w_apar</td></tr><tr><td>4.1.1</td><td>IJ59564</td><td>08/14/2026</td><td>4.1.1.30</td><td>key_w_apar</td></tr><tr><td>4.1.2</td><td>IJ59563</td><td>08/14/2026</td><td>4.1.2.20</td><td>key_w_apar</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p></p><p><strong>B.\u00a0 FIXES</strong></p><p>IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability now.</p><p>\u00a0AIX and VIOS fixes are available and can be downloaded from Fix Central: <a href=\"https://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral\" rel=\"nofollow\">https://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral</a></p><p>\u00a0An LPAR reboot is required to complete the SP/FP update. On AIX, Live Update can be used to avoid a reboot.</p><p>\u00a0IBM has assigned the following AIX Service Packs (SPs) and VIOS Fix Packs (FPs) as the remediation levels for the published vulnerabilities.</p><div><table><colgroup><col/><col/></colgroup><tbody><tr><td><strong>AIX Level\u00a0</strong></td><td><strong>Service Pack</strong></td></tr><tr><td>AIX 7.3 TL04</td><td>SP2</td></tr><tr><td>AIX 7.3 TL03</td><td>SP3</td></tr><tr><td>AIX 7.3 TL02</td><td>SP5</td></tr><tr><td>AIX 7.2 TL05\u00a0</td><td>SP13</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p></p><div><table><colgroup><col/><col/></colgroup><tbody><tr><td><strong>PowerVM VIOS Level</strong></td><td><strong>Fix Pack</strong></td></tr><tr><td>VIOS 4.1.2\u00a0</td><td>4.1.2.20</td></tr><tr><td>VIOS 4.1.1\u00a0</td><td>4.1.1.30</td></tr><tr><td>VIOS 4.1.0\u00a0\u00a0</td><td>4.1.0.50</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p></p><p><strong>Note:</strong> These SPs/FPs are cumulative and include fixes for all previously published AIX/VIOS security vulnerabilities. They can be applied on top of any earlier affected level of the TL .</p><p><strong>Note:</strong> To apply these patches using nimsh secure, special steps must be taken as the protocol between master and client is updated to be more secure. Please read this article:<br/><a href=\"https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283157\" rel=\"nofollow\">https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283157</a></p><p><strong>Note:</strong> For VIOS 4.1.0 and VIOS 4.1.1, additional steps are required to migrate to the latest Postgres15 after applying the 4.1.1.30 or 4.1.0.50 FPs above. Instructions to do that can be found here:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0</p><p>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 4.1.0.50 post-update instructions: <a href=\"https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283819\" rel=\"nofollow\">https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283819</a><br/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 4.1.1.30 post-update instructions: <a href=\"https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283823\" rel=\"nofollow\">https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283823</a></p><p></p>"}]}], "credits": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CVE-2026-14970, CVE-2026-15061, CVE-2026-15078, CVE-2026-15065, CVE-2026-15068 were reported to IBM by Oneconsult AG (https://oneconsult.com/).", "type": "finder"}]}}}

{}

{"affected": [{"affectedData": [{"cpes": ["cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*"], "product": "AIX", "vendor": "IBM", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "7.2"}, {"status": "affected", "version": "7.3"}]}, {"cpes": ["cpe:2.3:a:ibm:powervm_vios:4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "cpe:2.3:a:ibm:powervm_vios:4.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*"], "product": "PowerVM VIOS", "vendor": "IBM", "versions": [{"status": "affected", "version": "4.1"}]}], "source": "psirt@us.ibm.com"}], "cveTags": [], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "IBM AIX 7.2, and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1 could allow a local attacker to gain elevated privileges due to improper handling of symbolic links."}], "id": "CVE-2026-16991", "lastModified": "2026-08-20T22:17:10.317", "metrics": {"cvssMetricV31": [{"cvssData": {"attackComplexity": "LOW", "attackVector": "LOCAL", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH", "baseScore": 7.8, "baseSeverity": "HIGH", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "privilegesRequired": "LOW", "scope": "UNCHANGED", "userInteraction": "NONE", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H", "version": "3.1"}, "exploitabilityScore": 1.8, "impactScore": 5.9, "source": "psirt@us.ibm.com", "type": "Primary"}]}, "published": "2026-08-20T22:17:10.317", "references": [{"source": "psirt@us.ibm.com", "url": "https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283858"}], "sourceIdentifier": "psirt@us.ibm.com", "vulnStatus": "Received", "weaknesses": [{"description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-269"}], "source": "psirt@us.ibm.com", "type": "Primary"}]}

{}

{"affected": [{"configurations": [{"platform": null, "status": "affected", "versions": {"scheme": "generic", "value": "7.2"}}, {"platform": null, "status": "affected", "versions": {"scheme": "generic", "value": "7.3"}}], "enrichment": {"confidence": 90.0, "confidence_source": "inferred", "scores": [{"score": 90.0, "source": "inferred"}, {"score": 100.0, "source": "matching"}]}, "original": {"product": "AIX", "source": "cna", "vendor": "IBM"}, "product": "aix", "vendor": "ibm"}, {"configurations": [{"platform": null, "status": "affected", "versions": {"scheme": "generic", "value": "4.1"}}], "enrichment": {"confidence": 90.0, "confidence_source": "inferred", "scores": [{"score": 90.0, "source": "inferred"}, {"score": 100.0, "source": "matching"}]}, "original": {"product": "PowerVM VIOS", "source": "cna", "vendor": "IBM"}, "product": "powervm_vios", "vendor": "ibm"}], "created": "2026-08-21T00:00:05.072188+00:00", "updated": "2026-08-21T00:45:07.118715+00:00", "vendors": ["ibm", "ibm$PRODUCT$aix", "ibm$PRODUCT$powervm_vios"]}