CVE-2026-11725 in IBM
Summary
by MITRE • 09/18/2026
IBM MQ could allow an authenticated attacker to cause a denial of service or potentially execute arbitrary code due to an integer overflow in MQINQ request processing.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2026
The vulnerability identified within IBM Message Queue, commonly referred to as IBM MQ, represents a critical security flaw rooted in improper handling of numerical values during the processing of MQINQ requests. This specific defect is classified as an integer overflow, which occurs when an arithmetic operation produces a result that exceeds the maximum value representable by the allocated data type. In this context, the vulnerability allows an authenticated attacker to manipulate input parameters within these inquiry commands in such a way that the resulting calculation wraps around or truncates unexpectedly. This miscalculation leads to incorrect memory allocation or buffer sizing decisions within the application logic, creating conditions where subsequent operations access memory regions outside their intended boundaries. The presence of authentication requirements means that while remote unauthenticated exploitation is not possible, any user with valid credentials on the system can potentially trigger this flaw, significantly expanding the attack surface compared to fully open vulnerabilities.
From a technical perspective, integer overflows are particularly dangerous because they often bypass standard bounds checking mechanisms designed for larger data types or different logical contexts. When an attacker supplies values that cause the internal counter or size variable to overflow, it may result in a small positive number being interpreted instead of a large negative one, or vice versa depending on signedness assumptions. This discrepancy can lead to buffer over-reads or buffer over-writes when the system attempts to process data based on these corrupted sizes. If the memory corruption affects control flow structures such as return addresses or function pointers stored in adjacent memory locations, it creates an opportunity for arbitrary code execution. The attacker could potentially inject and execute malicious shellcode with the privileges of the IBM MQ service account, which often possesses elevated system permissions to facilitate message routing and queue management operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, primarily categorized under denial of service due to its reliability in crashing the affected application or process. Even if code execution fails due to mitigations like Address Space Layout Randomization or Data Execution Prevention, the instability introduced by memory corruption can cause the IBM MQ server to terminate unexpectedly. This results in a complete disruption of messaging services for all connected clients and dependent applications that rely on reliable message delivery. In enterprise environments where IBM MQ serves as a critical backbone for transaction processing, financial transfers, or supply chain logistics, such downtime translates directly into significant business continuity risks and potential data loss if transactions are interrupted mid-flight. The ability to potentially execute arbitrary code further escalates the risk profile from simple service disruption to full system compromise, allowing attackers to pivot laterally within the network using the compromised MQ instance as a foothold.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-190, which defines integer overflow or wraparound errors that can lead to other vulnerabilities such as buffer overflows and logic flaws. It also maps closely to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to exploitation for privilege escalation and defense evasion, specifically how attackers leverage application-layer weaknesses to gain initial access or maintain persistence within a network segment where MQ services are deployed. To mitigate this risk, organizations must ensure that all IBM MQ installations are updated with the latest security patches provided by IBM, which address the input validation logic surrounding MQINQ request processing. Additionally, implementing strict least-privilege principles for service accounts running MQ processes can limit the impact of a successful exploitation attempt. Network segmentation strategies should also be employed to restrict access to MQ ports only from trusted application servers and administrative workstations, thereby reducing the number of potential attackers who possess valid credentials capable of triggering this flaw. Regular auditing of user permissions and monitoring for anomalous message queue activity patterns can further enhance detection capabilities against attempts to exploit this integer overflow condition.