CVE-2026-15819 in DataPower Gateway
Summary
by MITRE • 10/08/2026
IBM DataPower Gateway 10.5.0.0 through 10.5.0.22, 10.6.1 through 10.6.6, 10.6.0.0 through 10.6.0.10, and 11.0.0.0 through 11.0.0.2 could allow a remote attacker to cause a denial of service due to out-of-bounds memory access caused by a strict-weak-ordering violation in a sorting comparator.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2026
The vulnerability identified in IBM DataPower Gateway versions ranging from 10.5.0.0 through 10.5.0.22, 10.6.1 through 10.6.6, and specific builds of the 10.6.0.x and 11.0.0.x series represents a critical stability issue rooted in improper input validation within sorting algorithms. This flaw is classified under CWE-835, which denotes a loop with an unreachable exit condition, often resulting from incorrect logic that fails to properly bound array or memory access operations. In this specific instance, the root cause is attributed to a strict weak ordering violation within a comparator function used for data sorting. A strict weak ordering requires that the comparison operation be irreflexive and transitive; when these mathematical properties are violated during runtime processing of network requests, it can lead to undefined behavior in standard library implementations or custom sort routines.
From an operational perspective, this technical flaw allows a remote attacker who has access to the DataPower Gateway interface to trigger a denial of service condition without requiring authentication in many configurations. By crafting specific malicious payloads that exploit the sorting comparator logic, an attacker can induce out-of-bounds memory access. This type of error typically results in application crashes or segmentation faults within the gateway process. Since IBM DataPower Gateway serves as a critical component for API management, web services acceleration, and security policy enforcement in enterprise environments, such instability disrupts all traffic passing through the device. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption; it can lead to data loss if transactions are being processed at the moment of failure and may necessitate manual intervention or full system restarts to restore normal operations.
The exploitation vector for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499, specifically Endpoint Denial of Service via resource exhaustion or application crashes. The attacker leverages the high availability nature of DataPower deployments by sending specially crafted requests that trigger the flawed comparator logic repeatedly or in a manner that maximizes memory corruption effects. This is particularly dangerous because DataPower appliances are often positioned at network perimeters to handle external traffic, making them attractive targets for automated scanning tools and opportunistic attackers seeking to disrupt business continuity. The lack of immediate authentication requirements in some default configurations further lowers the barrier to entry for executing this denial-of-service attack.
To mitigate this risk, organizations must apply the latest security patches provided by IBM that address the sorting comparator logic errors within these specific version ranges. It is imperative to verify the installed firmware against the affected versions listed and upgrade immediately if any match are detected. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible due to maintenance windows or compatibility concerns, network-level controls should be implemented to restrict access to the DataPower management interface and API endpoints from untrusted networks. Additionally, deploying Web Application Firewalls with rules designed to detect anomalous sorting patterns or malformed request structures can provide a layer of defense against exploitation attempts while permanent remediation is underway. Regular vulnerability scanning and configuration reviews are recommended to ensure that no other similar logic flaws exist within the application stack.