# CVE-2026-96264: IBM Power Systems Firmware buffer overflow in service processor mailbox

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96264-ibm-power-systems-firmware-fw1060-00-through-fw1060-81-is  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-12. Updated: 2026-10-16  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-96264 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.2 · Published 2026-10-12

IBM Power Systems Firmware contains a stack-based buffer overflow in the service processor mailbox interface that allows authenticated attackers with service-level access to execute arbitrary code with full control over the system's firmware runtime. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability gains complete access to system memory and hardware interfaces, potentially compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical enterprise infrastructure running on these systems.

Technologies: [IBM PowerVM Hypervisor](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/powervm-hypervisor). Vendors: [IBM](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/ibm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-96264 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-96264 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-96264?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.2, published 12 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** IBM PowerVM Hypervisor FW1060.00 through FW1060.81.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-96264?** Yes: fixed in FW1060.82 (1060_199) or newer. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-96264 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in device firmware.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-96264?** Check whether you run IBM PowerVM Hypervisor 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.

## How to fix

- Fixed in FW1060.82 (1060_199) or newer

## Technical details

A stack-based buffer overflow (CWE-121) exists in the PowerVM Hypervisor firmware's mailbox interface, affecting FW1060.00 through FW1060.81. An authenticated attacker with FSP service-level access can send a specially crafted mailbox message to overflow host firmware runtime attribute storage, enabling arbitrary code execution in the host firmware runtime and gaining full access to managed system memory and hardware interfaces.

## Affected products

- IBM PowerVM Hypervisor FW1060.00 through FW1060.81

## Timeline

- 2026-09-30: disclosed
- 2026-10-12: advisory

## References

- [https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7290126](https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7290126)

## Related threats

- [IBM Power Systems Firmware memory corruption in service processor mailbox](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96265-ibm-power-systems-firmware-fw1060-00-through-fw1060-81-is)
- [IBM Power Systems firmware image validation bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96263-ibm-power-systems-firmware-fw1120-00-through-fw1120-01-fw1110-00)
- [IBM Power Systems Firmware stack buffer overflow in service processor](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96262-ibm-power-systems-firmware-fw1060-00-through-fw1060-81-is)
- [IBM Power Systems Firmware stack-based buffer overflow in configuration parsing](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-96261-ibm-power-systems-firmware-fw1060-00-through-fw1060-81-is)
- [IBM PowerVM Hypervisor out-of-bounds read](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-18870-ibm-powervm-hypervisor-fw1120-00-through-fw1120-01-fw1110-00)