CVE-2026-17095 in IBM
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2026
IBM i 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, and 7.3 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to bypass security restrictions due to unsafe reflection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2026
This vulnerability exists within IBM i operating systems versions 7.3 through 7.6, representing a critical security flaw that allows authenticated remote attackers to circumvent established security controls. The issue stems from unsafe reflection practices within the system's architecture, specifically in how the platform handles object references and method invocations during runtime execution. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can manipulate the system's reflective capabilities to access restricted resources or execute unauthorized operations that should be prohibited by the security model.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the system's improper handling of dynamic object resolution mechanisms. IBM i systems utilize reflection for various administrative and operational functions, but the vulnerable implementations fail to properly validate input parameters before processing them through reflective calls. This unsafe approach enables attackers who have authenticated access to the system to craft malicious inputs that can trick the reflection engine into executing unintended code paths or accessing restricted system components.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on IBM i systems for critical business operations. The ability to bypass security restrictions means that authenticated attackers could potentially escalate their privileges, access sensitive data, modify system configurations, or disrupt normal operations. The remote nature of the attack vector increases the threat surface significantly, as attackers do not require physical access to the system and can exploit this weakness from anywhere on the network.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-470, which specifically addresses unsafe reflection practices in software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for application layer execution through reflective code manipulation. Organizations should immediately implement patch management procedures to address this issue, as IBM has released security updates to resolve the unsafe reflection handling mechanisms. Additional mitigations include implementing network segmentation to limit access to critical IBM i systems, enforcing strict authentication controls, and monitoring system logs for unusual reflective call patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.
Security teams should also consider implementing runtime application self-protection measures and code integrity checks to prevent unauthorized modifications to reflective execution paths. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in all dynamic code execution scenarios and serves as a reminder that even authenticated users should be subject to appropriate access controls and privilege limitations within enterprise systems. Organizations utilizing IBM i platforms must conduct thorough security assessments to identify any additional instances where unsafe reflection practices might exist in their implementations.