Local privilege escalation via out-of-bounds write
Published Aug 20, 2026 · Updated Aug 20, 2026
Out-of-bounds write in IBM AIX 7.2 and 7.3 and PowerVM VIOS 4.1 allows local users to gain elevated privileges. IBM identifies no affected component or input path, disclosing only that an out-of-bounds write causes the privilege escalation. Local execution is required, but IBM does not identify the resulting privilege level or whether the flaw can be tested without altering the system.
Summary
What happened
Out-of-bounds write in IBM AIX 7.2 and 7.3 and PowerVM VIOS 4.1 allows local users to gain elevated privileges. IBM identifies no affected component or input path, disclosing only that an out-of-bounds write causes the privilege escalation. Local execution is required, but IBM does not identify the resulting privilege level or whether the flaw can be tested without altering the system.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-18842
- Published
- Aug 20, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 20, 2026
- Vendor
- IBM
- Product
- AIX
- Classifications
- CWE-787, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 20, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=7.2
- Affected versionversion=7.3
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
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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