Description

IBM AIX 7.2, and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1 could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code due to a stack buffer overflow.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "9.8",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-19T20:17:07.497Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-19T20:17:07.497Z",
  "executiveSummary": "A stack buffer overflow vulnerability has been identified in IBM AIX and IBM PowerVM VIOS, which could potentially allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within vulnerable components of the operating systems. Successful exploitation of this flaw can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the target system, potentially granting the attacker unauthorized control with the privileges of the affected process. Affected products include IBM AIX 7.2, IBM AIX 7.3, and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1. The risk implications are severe, as remote exploitation does not inherently require complex user interaction based on standard vulnerability profiles, depending on network exposure and service accessibility. Threat actors possessing remote network access could leverage this flaw by supplying specially crafted inputs designed to overflow the target stack buffer, resulting in memory corruption and arbitrary code execution.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability is classified as a stack buffer overflow, occurring when a program or operating system component writes more data to a stack-based memory buffer than it is allocated to hold. This excessive data overwrites adjacent memory regions, which typically include crucial execution context data such as saved frame pointers and return addresses. The root cause lies in the lack of adequate input validation and bounds checking routines within the affected code paths of IBM AIX 7.2, IBM AIX 7.3, and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1.\nDuring the attack flow, a remote attacker initiates communication with a vulnerable network-exposed service or interface running on the target system. The attacker transmits a maliciously crafted payload containing an excessive amount of input data designed to exceed the predefined length of the target buffer. As the vulnerable function processes this input, the unchecked data overflows the boundary of the stack buffer and overwrites the adjacent return address with a manipulated memory reference pointing to attacker-controlled shellcode or a return-oriented programming (ROP) chain.\nWhen the affected function attempts to execute its return instruction, the Central Processing Unit (CPU) loads the corrupted address from the stack into the instruction pointer. This redirects the control flow of the application directly to the attacker's payload. Depending on the execution context and privilege level of the vulnerable process, the injected code executes with elevated or system-level privileges. Post-exploitation impact includes full system compromise, installation of persistent backdoors, unauthorized data access, and lateral movement within the enterprise network environment. Network exposure, authentication requirements, and specific privilege prerequisites vary based on the exact service vector targeted, but the vulnerability fundamentally enables remote code execution capabilities."
}