CVE-2026-17088 in IBM
Summary
by MITRE • 08/14/2026
IBM i 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, and 7.3 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to obtain sensitive information due to a path traversal vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2026
This vulnerability affects IBM i operating systems version 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, and 7.3, presenting a critical security risk that enables remote authenticated attackers to access sensitive system information through path traversal techniques. The flaw resides in how the system handles file path references, allowing attackers who have legitimate authentication credentials to navigate beyond intended directories and access restricted files or data. This represents a fundamental breakdown in access control mechanisms that violates core security principles of least privilege and proper input validation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input when processing file paths or directory references. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that include directory traversal sequences such as "../" or similar path manipulation techniques, enabling them to access files outside their designated scope. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which is classified as a common weakness in software security practices. The attack vector requires only authenticated access, meaning that any user with valid credentials can potentially exploit this flaw, significantly expanding the attack surface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can lead to unauthorized access to system configuration files, user data, application source code, and other sensitive materials. This weakness creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges, conduct further reconnaissance, or extract valuable intellectual property. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location with network connectivity to the affected systems, while the authenticated requirement reduces the barrier to entry compared to fully remote attacks. Organizations running these IBM i versions face potential compliance violations under regulations such as pci dss and iso 27001 due to inadequate data protection measures.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization controls at all points where file paths are processed or resolved. System administrators must ensure that proper access controls are enforced through the principle of least privilege, limiting user permissions to only necessary resources. Regular security updates and patches from IBM should be applied immediately upon availability, as these vulnerabilities often have readily available vendor fixes. Network segmentation can help limit the scope of potential exploitation by isolating critical systems from general network access. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and prevent path traversal attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the software security development lifecycle, particularly focusing on input validation and output encoding techniques that prevent malicious path manipulation attempts. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in their IBM i environments, ensuring comprehensive protection against such attacks that leverage legitimate authentication mechanisms to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information.