CVE-2026-16849

Service interrupt via improper array index check

Published Aug 19, 2026 · Updated Aug 20, 2026

Improper array index validation in IBM AIX 7.2 and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM Virtual I/O Server 4.1 allows remote attackers to interrupt service. IBM has not disclosed the affected subsystem; the published record states only that code fails to reject an out-of-range array index before later access. The published CVSS vector marks reachability as adjacent-network and availability-only, so triage should focus on exposed services that accept nearby network input and can crash or hang without data exposure.

CVSS severity4.3
Medium
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 array index validation in IBM AIX 7.2 and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM Virtual I/O Server 4.1 allows remote attackers to interrupt service. IBM has not disclosed the affected subsystem; the published record states only that code fails to reject an out-of-range array index before later access. The published CVSS vector marks reachability as adjacent-network and availability-only, so triage should focus on exposed services that accept nearby network input and can crash or hang without data exposure.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-16849
Published
Aug 19, 2026
Updated
Aug 20, 2026
Vendor
OpenBMC Project
Product
AIX
Classifications
CWE-129, T1499
Attack vector
adjacent
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 vectoradjacent
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

4.3IBM CNACVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L

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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-129Improper Validation of Array Index
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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