CVE-2026-16822Network attack vector

Traffic modification via improper certificate validation

Published Aug 19, 2026 · Updated Aug 20, 2026

Improper certificate validation in IBM AIX 7.2 and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM Virtual I/O Server 4.1 allows remote attackers to modify traffic. The TNC client accepts a forged policy-server certificate instead of properly authenticating the server, which enables TNC policy server impersonation on the network path. No prior access or user interaction is required, and the published impact is limited to integrity changes to traffic rather than host compromise.

CVSS severity9.3
Critical
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper certificate validation in IBM AIX 7.2 and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM Virtual I/O Server 4.1 allows remote attackers to modify traffic. The TNC client accepts a forged policy-server certificate instead of properly authenticating the server, which enables TNC policy server impersonation on the network path. No prior access or user interaction is required, and the published impact is limited to integrity changes to traffic rather than host compromise.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-16822
Published
Aug 19, 2026
Updated
Aug 20, 2026
Vendor
OpenBMC Project
Product
AIX
Classifications
CWE-295, T1557
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 20, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=7.2
  2. Affected versionversion=7.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenBMC Project · AIXversion=7.2; version=7.3
OpenBMC Project · PowerVM Virtual I/O Serverversion=4.1

Published CVSS scores

9.3IBMCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:H/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-295Improper Certificate Validation
T1557Adversary-in-the-Middle

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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