Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in IBM AIX and PowerVM
CVE-2026-16703

7.8HIGH

Key Information:

Vendor

IBM
Status
Aix
Powervm ViOS
Vendor
CVE Published:
19 August 2026

What is CVE-2026-16703?

The vulnerability in IBM AIX (versions 7.2 and 7.3) and IBM PowerVM (version 4.1) allows local attackers to exploit improper privilege management, potentially granting them elevated privileges on the affected systems. This security flaw emphasizes the need for immediate patching and robust privilege management protocols to protect sensitive data and system integrity. IBM has acknowledged this vulnerability and recommends applying the latest patches to mitigate the risks associated.

Affected Version(s)

AIX 7.2

AIX 7.3

PowerVM VIOS 4.1

References

https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283858
vendor-advisorypatch

CVSS V3.1

Score:
7.8
Severity:
HIGH
Confidentiality:
High
Integrity:
High
Availability:
High
Attack Vector:
Local
Attack Complexity:
Low
Privileges Required:
Low
User Interaction:
None
Scope:
Unchanged

Timeline

  • Vulnerability published

  • Vulnerability Reserved

Credit

CVE-2026-14970, CVE-2026-15061, CVE-2026-15078, CVE-2026-15065, CVE-2026-15068 were reported to IBM by Oneconsult AG (https://oneconsult.com/).
.