Description

IBM i 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, and 7.3 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to bypass security restrictions due to improper neutralization of special elements in an SQL parameter.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "6.3",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-12T18:17:27.073Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-12T18:17:27.073Z",
  "executiveSummary": "A security vulnerability has been identified in IBM i affecting versions 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, and 7.3, which allows a remote authenticated attacker to bypass security restrictions.\nThe vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements in an SQL parameter, leading to potential security control bypasses.\nAn authenticated attacker with remote access can leverage this flaw to execute unauthorized operations or evade intended security boundaries.\nThe risk implications include unauthorized access to restricted data or functions within the database subsystem, depending on the privileges associated with the SQL execution context.\nSuccessful exploitation requires the attacker to be authenticated and capable of supplying crafted input parameters to vulnerable SQL queries processed by the system.",
  "technicalDetails": "The root cause of the vulnerability is insufficient input validation and sanitization of special elements within SQL parameters handled by the affected IBM i database components.\nSpecifically, the vulnerable component fails to properly neutralize special characters or command structures injected via user-supplied parameters destined for SQL execution.\nThe attack vector involves a remote authenticated user submitting specially crafted input containing malicious SQL parameter constructs designed to alter the intended query logic or bypass authorization checks enforced by the application layer.\nWhen the database engine processes the unsanitized parameter, the injected special elements are interpreted as executable SQL syntax rather than literal data values.\nThis behavior facilitates a parameter injection condition, allowing the attacker to manipulate database queries dynamically.\nAffected software versions include IBM i 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, and 7.3.\nPrerequisites for successful exploitation mandate that the attacker possesses valid authentication credentials and network access to the target service exposing the vulnerable SQL parameter handling routines.\nPost-exploitation impact includes the potential bypass of security restrictions, unauthorized data retrieval, or manipulation of database states beyond the attacker's intended authorization level."
}