CVE-2026-16951: Vulnerabilities in IBM AIX and PowerVM VIOS

Q: Who can exploit this vulnerability?

A local attacker who is already authenticated to an affected IBM AIX or IBM PowerVM VIOS system could exploit it.

Q: What level of access does an attacker need?

The attacker needs local authenticated access; the provided information does not indicate that remote unauthenticated exploitation is possible.

Q: What could successful exploitation allow?

Successful exploitation could allow execution of arbitrary code on the affected system.

Published Aug 15, 2026

Updated

IBM AIX 7.2, and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1 could allow a local authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code due to a heap-based 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 PowerVM VIOS 4.1.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 4.1.0.50Patch key_w_apar
Upgrade
Upgrade PowerVM VIOS 4.1.1 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 4.1.1.30Patch key_w_apar
Upgrade
Upgrade PowerVM VIOS 4.1.2 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 4.1.2.20Patch key_w_apar
Operational
Reboot the LPAR required to complete the SP/FP update.

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·09:44 PM

Data Sourced

via MITRE·09:44 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

Who can exploit this vulnerability?

A local attacker who is already authenticated to an affected IBM AIX or IBM PowerVM VIOS system could exploit it.

What level of access does an attacker need?

The attacker needs local authenticated access; the provided information does not indicate that remote unauthenticated exploitation is possible.

What could successful exploitation allow?

Successful exploitation could allow execution of arbitrary code on the affected system.

CVE-2026-16951: Vulnerabilities in IBM AIX and PowerVM VIOS

Affected Software

Remediation

Event History

Parent advisories

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can exploit this vulnerability?

What level of access does an attacker need?

What could successful exploitation allow?

Company

Resources

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