Description
IBM AIX 7.2, and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1 could allow a remote attacker to cause a denial of service due to improper validation of an allocation size.
Published: 2026-08-20
Score: 7.5 High
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

Impact

IBM AIX 7.2, AIX 7.3, and PowerVM VIOS 4.1 contain a flaw that permits a remote attacker to trigger a denial of service by sending requests that bypass allocation size validation, leading to resource exhaustion or a system crash. The weakness is classified as improper resource handling (CWE-770).

Affected Systems

Affected versions include IBM AIX 7.2 and 7.3 with service packs AIX 7.3 TL04 SP2, AIX 7.3 TL03 SP3, AIX 7.3 TL02 SP5, and AIX 7.2 TL05 SP13, as well as PowerVM VIOS 4.1.0, 4.1.1, and 4.1.2 with the corresponding fix pack levels 4.1.0.50, 4.1.1.30, and 4.1.2.20.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 7.5 classifies this vulnerability as high severity, and the EPSS score is not available, so no indication of current exploitation patterns is provided. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely through interfaces that allow allocation requests; an attacker can cause a restart or complete denial of service for all users sharing the affected system. The vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on August 21, 2026 at 00:18 UTC.

Remediation

Vendor Solution

A.  APARS IBM has assigned the following APARs to this problem: AIX LevelAPARAvailability  SPKEY7.2.5IJ5956608/14/2026SP13key_w_apar7.3.2IJ5956508/14/2026SP05key_w_apar7.3.3IJ5956408/14/2026SP03key_w_apar7.3.4IJ59563 08/14/2026SP02key_w_apar VIOS LevelAPARAvailability SPKEY4.1.0IJ5956508/14/20264.1.0.50key_w_apar4.1.1IJ5956408/14/20264.1.1.30key_w_apar4.1.2IJ5956308/14/20264.1.2.20key_w_apar B.  FIXES IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability now.  AIX and VIOS fixes are available and can be downloaded from Fix Central: https://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral  An LPAR reboot is required to complete the SP/FP update. On AIX, Live Update can be used to avoid a reboot.  IBM has assigned the following AIX Service Packs (SPs) and VIOS Fix Packs (FPs) as the remediation levels for the published vulnerabilities. AIX Level Service PackAIX 7.3 TL04SP2AIX 7.3 TL03SP3AIX 7.3 TL02SP5AIX 7.2 TL05 SP13 PowerVM VIOS LevelFix PackVIOS 4.1.2 4.1.2.20VIOS 4.1.1 4.1.1.30VIOS 4.1.0  4.1.0.50 Note: These SPs/FPs are cumulative and include fixes for all previously published AIX/VIOS security vulnerabilities. They can be applied on top of any earlier affected level of the TL . Note: To apply these patches using nimsh secure, special steps must be taken as the protocol between master and client is updated to be more secure. Please read this article: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283157 Note: For VIOS 4.1.0 and VIOS 4.1.1, additional steps are required to migrate to the latest Postgres15 after applying the 4.1.1.30 or 4.1.0.50 FPs above. Instructions to do that can be found here:                             4.1.0.50 post-update instructions: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283819           4.1.1.30 post-update instructions: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283823

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Download and apply the IBM-approved Service Pack or Fix Pack from Fix Central for the affected AIX or VIOS version.
  • Reboot the LPAR after installation, or use AIX Live Update to avoid downtime.
  • If using VIOS 4.1.0 or 4.1.1, follow IBM’s migration instructions to switch to Postgres 15 after applying the 4.1.0.50 or 4.1.1.30 fix packs.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on August 21, 2026 at 00:18 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

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History

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 22:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description IBM AIX 7.2, and 7.3 and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1 could allow a remote attacker to cause a denial of service due to improper validation of an allocation size.
Title Vulnerabilities in IBM AIX and PowerVM VIOS
First Time appeared Ibm
Ibm aix
Ibm powervm Vios
Weaknesses CWE-770
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:powervm_vios:4.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:powervm_vios:4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Ibm
Ibm aix
Ibm powervm Vios
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Subscriptions

Ibm Aix Powervm Vios
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: ibm

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-20T21:56:55.161Z

Reserved: 2026-07-24T18:07:50.656Z

Link: CVE-2026-17170

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-20T22:17:15.067

Modified: 2026-08-20T22:17:15.067

Link: CVE-2026-17170

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-21T00:30:07Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-770

    Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling