CVE-2026-16938: Software Security Vulnerability Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-v4hv-27x8-h9vq
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CVSS 6.9
CWE-862
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2026-16938 is a MODERATE (CVSS 6.9) security vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-862: Missing Authorization) affecting Software libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The weakness occurs when the product does not perform an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action.. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2026-16938 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2026-16938
GHSA Identifier GHSA-v4hv-27x8-h9vq
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 6.9
CWE Classification CWE-862: Missing Authorization
Affected Product Software
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 6.9

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:H).

Attack Vector Adjacent (AV:A)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required High (PR:H)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Changed (S:C)
Confidentiality None (C:N)
Integrity Low (I:L)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2026-16938

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Software dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2026-16938, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Software in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-862: Missing Authorization, where the product does not perform an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action. In Software, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

IBM Power Systems Firmware FW1120.00, FW1110.00 through FW1110.30, FW1060.00 through FW1060.80, and FW950.00 through FW950.H2 is affected by a vulnerability in access controls over privileged system configuration operations on the FSP. An attacker with authenticated administrator-level access to the FSP can place the managed system into a non-production operational mode, allowing certain system components to be disabled. This condition persists across FSP resets and requires explicit operator intervention — clearing the affected configuration — to restore normal operation. Successful exploitation results in an availability impact to the managed system.

References

NVD — CVE-2026-16938 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-16938
www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/... WEB
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283896

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-16938?
CVE-2026-16938 is a security vulnerability in Software classified as a security vulnerability vulnerability under CWE-862: Missing Authorization.
Which Software versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches.
What version fixes CVE-2026-16938?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2026-16938?
CVE-2026-16938 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.9 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2026-16938?
CVE-2026-16938 is classified under CWE-862: Missing Authorization (The product does not perform an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2026-16938?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-v4hv-27x8-h9vq",
  "modified" : "2026-08-19T21:30:30Z",
  "published" : "2026-08-19T21:30:30Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2026-16938" ],
  "details" : "IBM Power Systems Firmware FW1120.00, FW1110.00 through FW1110.30, FW1060.00 through FW1060.80, and FW950.00 through FW950.H2 is affected by a vulnerability in access controls over privileged system configuration operations on the FSP. An attacker with authenticated administrator-level access to the FSP can place the managed system into a non-production operational mode, allowing certain system components to be disabled. This condition persists across FSP resets and requires explicit operator intervention — clearing the affected configuration — to restore normal operation. Successful exploitation results in an availability impact to the managed system.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:H"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-16938"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7283896"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-862" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : false,
    "github_reviewed_at" : null,
    "nvd_published_at" : "2026-08-19T19:17:10Z"
  }
}