IBM AIX privilege escalation
Published Sep 16, 2025
7.4
HIGHCVSS 3.1
EPSS 0.12%
Description
IBM AIX 7.2, 7.3, IBM VIOS 3.1, and 4.1, when configured to use Kerberos network authentication, could allow a local user to write to files on the system with root privileges due to improper initialization of critical variables.
Affected products
-
- Version 7.2StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version 7.3StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version
-
- Version 3.1StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version 4.1StatusaffectedConstraints-
- Version
No data.
No Red Hat product state for this CVE.
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Vendor solution
IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability now.
AIX and VIOS fixes are available. The AIX and VIOS fixes can be downloaded via https from:
https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/kerberos_fix.tar
The link above is to a tar file containing this signed advisory, fix packages, and OpenSSL signatures for each package. The fixes below include prerequisite checking. This will enforce the correct mapping between the fixes and AIX Technology Levels.
You must be on the 'prereq for installation' level before applying the interim fix. This may require installing a new level(prereq version) first from:
https://www.ibm.com/resources/mrs/assets?source=aixbp
AIX LevelInterim FixFileset Name (prereq for installation)7.2, 7.3IJ55344s9a.250722.epkg.Zkrb5.client.rte (1.16.1.7)
VIOS LevelInterim FixFileset Name (prereq for installation)3.1, 4.1IJ55344s9a.250722.epkg.Zkrb5.client.rte (1.16.1.7)
To extract the fixes from the tar file:
tar xvf kerberos_fix.tar
cd kerberos_fix
Verify you have retrieved the fixes intact:
The checksums below were generated using the "openssl dgst -sha256 [filename]" command as the following:
openssl dgst -sha256filename7e771a31c6f02b5635d99e3444c6085c1c67fd744ed00eade1d042134df6bb54IJ55344s9a.250722.epkg.Z
These sums should match exactly. The OpenSSL signatures in the tar file and on this advisory can also be used to verify the integrity of the fixes. If the sums or signatures cannot be confirmed, contact IBM Support at http://ibm.com/support/ and describe the discrepancy.
openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [advisory_file].sig [advisory_file]
openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [ifix_file].sig [ifix_file]
Published advisory OpenSSL signature file location:
https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/kerberos_advisory.asc.sig
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
1 other source (CVE.org) ▾
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
No CVSS v3.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v2.0 score for this CVE.
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
CISA SSVC (Vulnrichment)
Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization from CISA ADP.
Exploitation
NoneAutomatable
NoTechnical Impact
TotalDecision
n/aAssessed Sep 16, 2025 · SSVC 2.0.3
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 3, 2026.
Score over time
2025–2026- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (3 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3, 2026 | 0.12% (0.00120) | 1.65th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 0.11% (0.00113) | 1.71th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 17, 2025 | 0.02% (0.00016) | 2.32th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
References (1)
- https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7245092 vendor-advisorypatchVendor Advisory
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7245092 | vendor-advisorypatchVendor Advisory |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.