CVE-2026-16180: IBM App Connect Enterprise XML entity expansion denial of service

CVE-2026-16180 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5.7 · Published 2026-09-04

IBM App Connect Enterprise is a middleware platform that integrates business applications and data flows. An authenticated user can crash the Toolkit component by submitting specially crafted XML with recursive entity definitions, causing a denial-of-service condition that disrupts integration work and message processing until the service is restarted.

Technologies: IBM App Connect Enterprise, IBM Integration Bus for z/OS. Vendors: IBM.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2026-16180 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-16180 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-16180?
Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5.7, published 4 September 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
IBM App Connect Enterprise 13.0.1.0 through 13.0.8.1, 12.0.1.0 through 12.0.12.28; IBM Integration Bus for z/OS 10.1.0.0 through 10.1.0.7.
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-16180?
A patch was published on 2026-09-04: Fix Pack 13.0.8.2 for App Connect Enterprise v13, Fix Pack 12.0.12.29 for v12, interim fix available for Integration Bus 10.1.0.7 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.
How is CVE-2026-16180 attacked?
It is attacked over the network, in a hosted service.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-16180?
Check whether you run IBM App Connect Enterprise or IBM Integration Bus for z/OS at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

Technical details

This vulnerability exists in the XML entity parsing logic of IBM App Connect Enterprise Toolkit and IBM Integration Bus for z/OS, stemming from improper validation of recursive XML entity references in Document Type Definitions (DTDs). The flaw allows an authenticated attacker with user interaction to submit a malicious XML document containing entity expansion attacks (CWE-776), causing excessive memory consumption or processing loops that crash the affected component. The vulnerability requires network access and valid authentication credentials to trigger, but no privilege elevation. Patches are available via Fix Pack releases 13.0.8.2 for version 13, 12.0.12.29 for version 12, and an interim fix for Integration Bus 10.1.0.7.

Affected products

  • IBM App Connect Enterprise 13.0.1.0 through 13.0.8.1, 12.0.1.0 through 12.0.12.28
  • IBM Integration Bus for z/OS 10.1.0.0 through 10.1.0.7

Timeline

  • 2026-09-04: disclosed: Published in IBM Security Bulletin
  • 2026-09-04: patched: Fix Pack 13.0.8.2 for App Connect Enterprise v13, Fix Pack 12.0.12.29 for v12, interim fix available for Integration Bus 10.1.0.7

References

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