Description

IBM i 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, and 7.3 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to obtain unauthorized privileges due to improper privilege management.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "8.8",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-13T20:17:15.057Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-13T20:17:15.057Z",
  "executiveSummary": "A vulnerability related to improper privilege management has been identified in IBM i versions 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, and 7.3. This security flaw enables a remote authenticated attacker to bypass standard access controls and acquire unauthorized privileges within the operating system environment.\nThe primary impact of successful exploitation includes a severe compromise of system integrity and confidentiality, as the adversary can elevate their authorization level to perform administrative or privileged operations that are normally restricted.\nExploitation of this vulnerability requires the attacker to possess valid authentication credentials to the target system, meaning anonymous or unauthenticated access is insufficient. However, once authenticated, the attacker can leverage the improper privilege management logic to execute unauthorized actions.\nThe risk implication is critical for organizations utilizing affected IBM i deployments, as an internal user or an attacker with compromised low-privilege credentials can escalate access to control critical system resources.\nNo specific auxiliary exploitation requirements or complex payloads are detailed beyond the necessity of prior authentication and network connectivity to the vulnerable service handling privilege verification.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability stems from improper privilege management implemented within the authorization architecture of IBM i 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, and 7.3. Specifically, the affected component fails to adequately validate or restrict user capabilities during specific execution contexts, leading to authorization bypasses.\nFrom an architectural standpoint, the root cause lies in flawed logic governing access control lists, capability checks, or security profiles. When an authenticated user initiates certain operations, the system fails to enforce the principle of least privilege, improperly granting elevated permissions to entities that lack the requisite authorization level.\nThe attack flow requires the adversary to first establish a valid authenticated session against the vulnerable IBM i instance using supported remote access protocols or interfaces. Upon successful authentication, the attacker interacts with the vulnerable component by supplying crafted inputs or invoking specific functions designed to trigger the privilege management flaw.\nBecause the underlying subsystem incorrectly processes the security context and fails to validate the caller's authorized privilege boundaries, the execution flow continues with elevated privileges. This allows the attacker to bypass intended operational restrictions.\nThe affected versions comprise IBM i 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, and 7.3. Network exposure depends on the specific services enabled on the system that interface with the vulnerable privilege management subsystem, allowing remote authenticated access vectors.\nPost-exploitation impact includes the ability to read sensitive system data, modify configurations, execute privileged commands, and potentially compromise the entire operating system environment depending on the extent of the unauthorized privileges obtained."
}