CVE-2016-8972
IBM AIX 6.1, 7.1, and 7.2 could allow a local user to gain root privileges using a specially crafted command within the bellmail client.
Does this matter?
A public exploit is published in Exploit-DB and the impact is high, while EPSS rates exploitation at 1.4%. Anyone can run this; patch or mitigate before the next change window and check exposed instances for signs of use.
Description
IBM AIX 6.1, 7.1, and 7.2 could allow a local user to gain root privileges using a specially crafted command within the bellmail client. IBM APARs: IV91006, IV91007, IV91008, IV91010, IV91011.
- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 HIGHCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 1.38% probability · 72th percentile
- Public exploits
- 1 in Exploit-DB · first 22 December 2016
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-264
- Affected
- ibm/aix · ibm/vios
- Source
- psirt@us.ibm.com
EPSS 1.4% since 27 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
Public exploits (1)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
References
- http://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/bellmail_advisory.ascMitigation, Patch, Vendor Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94979Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037480
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40950/
- http://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/bellmail_advisory.ascMitigation, Patch, Vendor Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94979Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037480
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40950/
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.