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CVE-2026-16915 is a vulnerability identified in IBM Db2 Mirror for i, affecting versions 7.4, 7.5, and 7.6. The core issue stems from improper input validation, which under specific conditions can be exploited by a remote authenticated attacker to obtain sensitive information from the affected system.
The vulnerability resides in how the Db2 Mirror for i component processes user-supplied input. Due to insufficient sanitization and validation of certain parameters, an authenticated attacker can craft malicious requests that bypass normal access controls. This improper validation allows the attacker to manipulate file paths or query parameters in a way that the application does not correctly restrict, leading to unauthorized read access to files or database contents outside the intended scope. The weakness is mapped to CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory – ‘Path Traversal’), indicating that the flaw involves insufficient restriction of pathnames, enabling directory traversal attacks.
An attacker with valid authentication credentials can send a specially crafted request containing directory traversal sequences (e.g., ../) or other input designed to escape the intended directory. Because the application fails to properly neutralize these sequences, the system processes the request and returns the contents of files that should be restricted. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and can be exploited over the network with low attack complexity. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.5 (High), with the vector string: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. This indicates a network‑accessible vulnerability with low attack complexity, requiring no privileges and no user interaction, resulting in a high impact on confidentiality but no impact on integrity or availability.
The vulnerability was published on August 14, 2026, and last modified on August 20, 2026. IBM has acknowledged the issue and released a security advisory with remediation guidance. The affected software configurations include all versions from 7.4 up to and including 7.6.
DailyCVE Form:
Platform: IBM Db2 Mirror for i
Version: 7.4, 7.5, 7.6
Vulnerability: Improper Input Validation
Severity: High (CVSS 7.5)
Date: August 14, 2026
Prediction: Expected Patch: September 2026
What Undercode Say:
Check if system is running vulnerable version db2level | grep -E "7.4|7.5|7.6" Verify IBM security advisory for patch availability curl -s https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283359 | grep -i "fix" Monitor logs for potential path traversal attempts grep -E "../|%2e%2e/" /var/log/db2/.log Test for improper input validation (educational only) curl -k -u username:password "https://target:port/api/resource?file=../../etc/passwd"
Exploit: (Educational Purposes!)
An authenticated attacker can exploit this vulnerability by injecting directory traversal payloads into input parameters that are used to construct file paths. For example, by sending a GET request with a `file` parameter containing ../../../../config/secrets.txt, the application may return the contents of the secrets file if input validation is insufficient. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to read arbitrary files on the system, including configuration files, credentials, and sensitive application data, without requiring any additional privileges.
Protection:
Immediately apply the security patches provided by IBM in the advisory referenced at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283359. Until patching is possible, restrict network access to the Db2 Mirror for i administrative interfaces and enforce strict input validation on all user‑supplied parameters. Implement a web application firewall (WAF) or API gateway to filter out malicious path traversal sequences. Additionally, review and tighten authentication mechanisms to ensure only trusted users have access to the affected components.
Impact:
Successful exploitation of CVE-2026-16915 can lead to the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, including system files, database credentials, and other confidential data stored on the server. This breach of confidentiality can compromise the entire system’s security posture, potentially leading to further attacks, data leaks, and regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability requires only network access and low attack complexity, making it a high‑priority risk for organizations using the affected versions.
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Sources:
Reported By: nvd.nist.gov
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