Quick answers
- Is CVE-2026-18221 exploited in the wild?
- No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-18221 being exploited in the wild.
- How severe is CVE-2026-18221?
- High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.1, published 4 September 2026.
- Which products and versions are affected?
- IBM I 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6.
- Is there a fix for CVE-2026-18221?
- A patch was published on 2026-09-04: PTFs available for all affected versions (7.3-7.6) Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.
- How is CVE-2026-18221 attacked?
- It is attacked over the network.
- Am I affected by CVE-2026-18221?
- Check whether you run IBM I 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
The vulnerability exists in IBM i's Distributed Data Management (DDM) / Distributed Relational Database Architecture (DRDA) layer, which handles remote database authentication and authorization. The flaw stems from improper validation of client-supplied authentication parameters, allowing a remote attacker with network access to bypass authentication controls. No user interaction or elevated privileges are required; the attack requires only network connectivity to the affected system. An attacker can gain unauthorized database access, read sensitive data, and potentially modify or delete database records. IBM has released patches (PTFs) for versions 7.3 through 7.6; affected organizations should apply the provided security updates immediately.
Affected products
- IBM i 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6
Timeline
- 2026-09-04: disclosed: Security bulletin published
- 2026-09-04: patched: PTFs available for all affected versions (7.3-7.6)