CVE-2026-17445 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 improper validation of an attacker-supplied user profile name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2026
This vulnerability exists within IBM i operating systems versions 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, and 7.3, where a remote authenticated attacker can exploit improper validation of user profile names to bypass security restrictions. The flaw stems from insufficient input sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly validate the format and content of user profile identifiers submitted by attackers. This weakness allows malicious actors to craft specially formatted profile names that circumvent access controls and authentication mechanisms, potentially enabling unauthorized system access or privilege escalation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the operating system's user authentication subsystem failing to adequately sanitize user input during profile name validation processes. When an attacker submits a crafted user profile name, the system does not properly validate the input against established security policies, allowing malformed or specially constructed identifiers to pass through security checks. This represents a classic case of insufficient input validation that can be classified under CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation in software applications. The vulnerability specifically impacts the authentication and authorization mechanisms that govern user access to system resources.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability compromises the fundamental security model of IBM i systems by enabling attackers to bypass authentication controls that should prevent unauthorized access to system resources. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially gain access to restricted system functions, data, or administrative capabilities without proper authorization. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the system and can exploit the flaw from any network location where they have valid authentication credentials. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of the affected systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by IBM, which typically address the input validation flaws in the user profile handling code. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns or malformed user profile name submissions that could indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should also review and enforce strict user profile naming conventions while implementing additional input validation controls at the application level where possible. The vulnerability aligns with attack techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and credential access categories, specifically targeting the authentication process and system access controls that maintain organizational security boundaries.