CVE-2026-17642 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 execute arbitrary commands due to improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical command injection flaw affecting IBM i operating systems across multiple versions including 7.6, 7.5, 7.4, and 7.3. The weakness stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input within operating system command execution contexts, creating an environment where malicious actors can manipulate system behavior through crafted inputs. The vulnerability specifically manifests when authenticated users submit data that gets processed into OS commands without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary commands that execute with the privileges of the affected system process, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this flaw typically involves scenarios where user input flows directly into system command invocations through functions like system(), exec(), or similar OS-level execution routines. When these functions receive unvalidated input containing special shell metacharacters such as semicolons, ampersands, or backticks, the operating system interprets these characters as command separators or operators rather than literal input. This misinterpretation enables attackers to chain additional commands or manipulate execution flow according to their malicious intent. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-78, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in OS command construction, and represents a variant of the broader command injection attack pattern.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on IBM i systems for critical business functions. Authentication requirements mean that attackers must first establish valid credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage this flaw across multiple system components including network services, database operations, and administrative utilities. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include potential data exfiltration, system modification, and service disruption. Attackers could use this vulnerability to establish persistent access, escalate privileges further through additional exploitation chains, or deploy malware within the system environment. The remote nature of the attack means that even systems with restricted network access could be compromised if authentication credentials are obtained through other vectors.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through official IBM security patches addressing the command injection vulnerability in affected IBM i versions. Network segmentation and firewall rules should limit access to IBM i systems from untrusted networks while implementing strict authentication controls including multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts. Input validation mechanisms should be strengthened across all system interfaces that handle user input destined for OS commands, with special character filtering and escaping implemented at multiple layers of the application stack. Monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual command execution patterns or attempts to leverage shell metacharacters in system operations. Additionally, regular security assessments should verify proper implementation of secure coding practices and validate that no similar injection vulnerabilities exist within custom applications or third-party software running on the IBM i platform. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.003 for command and scripting interpreter demonstrates its alignment with established threat modeling frameworks, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive measures against this persistent attack vector.