CVE-2016-8972

HIGH

IBM AIX <7.3 - Privilege Escalation

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2016-8972. PoCs published by Hector X. Monsegur.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit leverages a vulnerability in IBM AIX's bellmail binary to escalate privileges to root by manipulating the /etc/suid_profile file. It creates a SUID root shell in /tmp and executes it after triggering the vulnerability via mail delivery.

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.

Exploits (1)

exploitdb WORKING POC
by Hector X. Monsegur · bashlocalaix
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40950

This exploit leverages a vulnerability in IBM AIX's bellmail binary to escalate privileges to root by manipulating the /etc/suid_profile file. It creates a SUID root shell in /tmp and executes it after triggering the vulnerability via mail delivery.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: IBM AIX 6.1, 7.1, 7.2 and VIOS 2.2.x
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to an affected IBM AIX system · bellmail binary must be present and vulnerable
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (4)

Core 4
Core References
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1037480
Mitigation, Patch, Vendor Advisory x_refsource_confirm
http://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/bellmail_advisory.asc
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/94979
Exploit, Third Party Advisory exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40950/

Scores

CVSS v3 7.8
EPSS 0.0138
EPSS Percentile 68.6%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Details

CWE
CWE-264
Status published
Products (45)
ibm/aix 6.1
ibm/aix 7.1
ibm/aix 7.2
ibm/vios 2.2.0.0
ibm/vios 2.2.0.10
ibm/vios 2.2.0.11
ibm/vios 2.2.0.12
ibm/vios 2.2.0.13
ibm/vios 2.2.1.0
ibm/vios 2.2.1.1
... and 35 more
Published Feb 15, 2017
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026