# CVE-2026-81657: IBM Guardium Data Protection deserialization code execution

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-81657-ibm-guardium-data-protection-12-2-could-allow-a-remote  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-18. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-81657 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Published 2026-09-18

IBM Guardium Data Protection is a security and compliance appliance that monitors and protects databases. A flaw in how the application processes untrusted data allows remote attackers without authentication to execute arbitrary code on the appliance, potentially compromising all monitored databases and the audit infrastructure.

Technologies: [IBM Guardium Data Protection](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/guardium-data-protection). Vendors: [IBM](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/ibm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-81657 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-81657 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-81657?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 18 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** IBM Guardium Data Protection 12.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-81657?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-81657 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-81657?** Check whether you run IBM Guardium Data Protection 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

CVE-2026-81657 is an unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability stemming from unsafe deserialization of untrusted data (CWE-502). The attack requires only network access and no authentication; a crafted malicious serialized object can trigger arbitrary code execution with full system privileges. No user interaction is required.

## Affected products

- IBM Guardium Data Protection 12.2

## Timeline

- 2026-09-18: disclosed

## References

- [https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7288040](https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7288040)

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