CVE-2026-16980

Service interruption via improper symbolic-link validation

Published Aug 20, 2026 · Updated Aug 20, 2026

Link following in IBM AIX 7.2 and 7.3 and PowerVM VIOS 4.1 allows local users to interrupt service through symbolic links. The affected bos.mp64 fileset inadequately validates symbolic links before file access, but IBM has not disclosed the specific routine or pathname. Low-privileged local access and a high-complexity condition are required; IBM reports denial of service but does not specify whether the partition hangs or crashes.

CVSS severity6.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.10%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Link following in IBM AIX 7.2 and 7.3 and PowerVM VIOS 4.1 allows local users to interrupt service through symbolic links. The affected bos.mp64 fileset inadequately validates symbolic links before file access, but IBM has not disclosed the specific routine or pathname. Low-privileged local access and a high-complexity condition are required; IBM reports denial of service but does not specify whether the partition hangs or crashes.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-16980
Published
Aug 20, 2026
Updated
Aug 20, 2026
Vendor
IBM
Product
AIX
Classifications
CWE-59, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 20, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

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

Published CVSS scores

6.3IBMCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo