CVE-2026-19449

Local root execution via cmdnim

Published Aug 20, 2026 · Updated Aug 20, 2026

Privilege escalation in IBM AIX 7.2 and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM Virtual I/O Server 4.1 allows local users to execute code as root via cmdnim. IBM has disclosed only that cmdnim can execute an attacker-controlled payload as root and has not published the underlying validation or execution flaw in the utility. Local access with low privileges and no user interaction is required; successful exploitation yields full root control of the affected AIX LPAR or VIOS instance.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.10%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in IBM AIX 7.2 and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM Virtual I/O Server 4.1 allows local users to execute code as root via cmdnim. IBM has disclosed only that cmdnim can execute an attacker-controlled payload as root and has not published the underlying validation or execution flaw in the utility. Local access with low privileges and no user interaction is required; successful exploitation yields full root control of the affected AIX LPAR or VIOS instance.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-19449
Published
Aug 20, 2026
Updated
Aug 20, 2026
Vendor
OpenBMC Project
Product
AIX
Classifications
T1068
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

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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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

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

Published CVSS scores

8.8IBMCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/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.

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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

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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