CVE-2026-16946: Vulnerabilities in IBM AIX and PowerVM VIOS

Q: Which systems should be included in exposure assessment?

Inventory IBM AIX systems and IBM PowerVM VIOS systems, as both are listed as affected software.

Q: Does the available information indicate that this can be exploited remotely?

No remote attack path is described. The available information characterizes the attacker as local.

Published Aug 15, 2026

Updated

IBM AIX 7.2, and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1 could allow a local attacker to gain elevated privileges due to a heap buffer overflow.

Affected Software

10 affected components

IBM AIX<=7.2

IBM AIX<=7.3

IBM PowerVM VIOS<=4.1

IBM VIOS>=4.1.0<4.1.0.50

IBM VIOS>=4.1.1.0<4.1.1.30

IBM VIOS>=4.1.2.0<4.1.2.20

IBM AIX>=7.2.5<=7.2.5.212

IBM AIX>=7.3.2<=7.3.2.5

IBM AIX>=7.3.3<=7.3.3.2

IBM AIX>=7.3.4<=7.3.4.1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

Upgrade
Upgrade IBM AIX 7.2 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Patch SPKEY7.2.5
Upgrade
Upgrade IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 4.1.0.50Patch IJ5956508/14/2026
Upgrade
Upgrade IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1.1 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 4.1.1.30Patch IJ5956408/14/2026
Upgrade
Upgrade IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1.2 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 4.1.2.20Patch IJ5956308/14/2026
Operational
Perform an LPAR reboot to complete the SP/FP update.
Operational
For VIOS 4.1.0 and VIOS 4.1.1: perform the additional steps required to migrate to the latest Postgres15 after applying the 4.1.0.50 or 4.1.1.30 FPs.

Event History

Aug 15, 2026

CVE Published

via IBM·12:00 AM

Data Sourced

via IBM·12:00 AM

DescriptionAffected Software

Aug 20, 2026

CVE Published

via MITRE·09:34 PM

Data Sourced

via MITRE·09:34 PM

RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeakness

Data Sourced

via NVD·10:17 PM

RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

IBM-7283858

Frequently Asked Questions

Which systems should be included in exposure assessment?

Inventory IBM AIX systems and IBM PowerVM VIOS systems, as both are listed as affected software.

Does the available information indicate that this can be exploited remotely?

No remote attack path is described. The available information characterizes the attacker as local.

CVE-2026-16946: Vulnerabilities in IBM AIX and PowerVM VIOS

Affected Software

Remediation

Event History

Parent advisories

Frequently Asked Questions

Which systems should be included in exposure assessment?

Does the available information indicate that this can be exploited remotely?

Company

Resources

Contact