Skip to main content

IBM DataStage EUVDEUVD-2026-75774

| CVE-2026-81550 HIGH
OS Command Injection (CWE-78)
2026-09-10 ibm GHSA-pxj2-mccr-jxwc
8.8
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: ibm
View

Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Obtain valid low-privilege DataStage credentials
  2. Delivery
    Send crafted request with OS command injection payload
  3. Exploit
    DataStage passes unsanitized input to shell call
  4. Execution
    Arbitrary commands execute as DataStage service account
  5. Impact
    Full host compromise: data exfiltration, credential theft, or persistence

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization OS command sanitization, avoid shell exec
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 1 tactic: Execution

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

Exploitation requires a valid authenticated session with at minimum low-privilege access to IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 (PR:L per CVSS vector); unauthenticated exploitation is not indicated. The vulnerability is reachable over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L) and requires no user interaction (UI:N) - no administrator action or victim click is needed beyond the attacker holding a valid account. No special non-default configuration is identified in the available data; standard authenticated access to a DataStage 5.4.0.0 deployment appears sufficient. Exploitation is constrained to version 5.4.0.0 of the Cloud Pak for Data-integrated product; other versions and standalone DataStage are not confirmed in scope. The specific vulnerable endpoint or DataStage feature is not disclosed in the available data.

Impact

The CVSS 8.8 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) establishes a high-severity, low-complexity flaw with full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact - the only friction is the requirement for a valid authenticated session, which is a meaningful but low bar in enterprise environments with broad user populations. No EPSS score was provided in the input, so probabilistic exploitation likelihood cannot be quantified; however, OS command injection with AC:L and PR:L in a widely deployed enterprise data platform represents an elevated practical risk. Even a mid-sized municipal IT team in kielce running DataStage for data pipeline processing should treat this as urgent, given that any DataStage user - not just admins - could leverage the flaw for full host compromise. There is no CISA KEV listing and no public POC has been identified, which modestly tempers immediate exploitation pressure, but the straightforward attack class (command injection) and absence of complexity barriers mean the window between patch availability and exploitation attempts is likely short.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker holding a valid low-privilege IBM DataStage account sends a crafted request to a DataStage API endpoint or workflow feature, embedding OS metacharacters (e.g., semicolons, backticks, pipe operators) in a user-controlled parameter that the server passes unsanitized to a shell command. The injected commands execute in the context of the DataStage service process, granting the attacker full read/write access to data pipelines, credentials stored on the host, and the underlying Cloud Pak for Data node. No public POC has been identified, but the simplicity of OS command injection means skilled attackers can reproduce the technique without prior public disclosure.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.5% exploitation probability (EPSS)

Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.

Alert me

AnalysisAIv1 – Sep 10, 2026

Remote code execution in IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 permits any network-accessible authenticated user to inject and execute arbitrary OS commands on the underlying host. The CWE-78 flaw stems from insufficient sanitization of user-controlled input before it is passed to a system shell call, and the CVSS 8.8 vector (PR:L) confirms exploitation does not require administrative privileges - any valid account suffices. No public exploit code or CISA KEV listing has been identified at time of analysis; a vendor patch is available via the IBM support portal.

RemediationAI

Vendor-released patch is available per IBM advisory at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7286562 - applying this fix is the primary and recommended remediation. The exact patched version is not independently confirmed from the available input data and must be obtained directly from the IBM security bulletin. If immediate patching is not feasible, restrict network-layer access to DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data endpoints to the minimum set of trusted hosts and authenticated users, reducing the exposure surface; note this does not eliminate the vulnerability, only limits who can reach it. Audit active DataStage user accounts and revoke any unnecessary low-privilege accounts to reduce the pool of potential attackers. IBM Cloud Pak for Data's role-based access controls should be reviewed to ensure the principle of least privilege is enforced across DataStage users.

Affected VersionsENISA

DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0

Affected Packages

euvd datastage_on_cloud_pak_for_data no fix

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data is an enterprise ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) and data integration platform deployed within IBM's Cloud Pak for Data stack, typically running on Red Hat OpenShift/Kubernetes. The affected CPE is cpe:2.3:a:ibm:datastage_on_cloud_pak_for_data:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* at version 5.4.0.0. CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command) describes a root cause where user-supplied input is incorporated into shell commands - via system(), exec(), popen(), or equivalent calls - without adequate escaping or allowlisting, enabling attackers to append or substitute malicious commands. The network attack vector (AV:N) indicates the vulnerable functionality is reachable over the network rather than requiring local access, and the low privilege requirement (PR:L) points to an authenticated feature surface accessible to regular DataStage users, not exclusively administrators.

Know when Datastage On Cloud Pak For Data gets its next vulnerability

  • Watch products and get an email when something new is published
  • Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

No credit card · 7-day full trial

Severity by source

Vendor (ibm) PRIMARY 8.8 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 8.8 HIGH

Network-accessible OS command injection exploitable by any authenticated low-privilege user with no interaction, yielding full system-level CIA compromise with no scope change.

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (ibm).

CVSS VectorVendor: ibm

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionCVE.org

IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 could allow a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code due to improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 is vulnerable to OS command injection (CVE-2026-81550, CVSS 8.8) that allows authenticated users to execute arbitrary OS commands on the underlying host. While no public exploit code has been identified, any user with valid account credentials poses a significant security risk to data integrity and system operations. A vendor patch is available and should be deployed immediately to eliminate this exposure.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.5%
Top 56% exploitable
Prevalence
Medium
enterprise ETL platform, common in large-org IBM data environments
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.5%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

45
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +1
CVSS: +44
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

OS command injection occurs when an application passes unsanitized user input directly into system shell commands.

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

CVE-2026-16335 HIGH POC
8.8 Sep 14

Arbitrary file read, write, and delete on IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 is possible for an authenticated l

CVE-2026-16346 CRITICAL
9.9 Sep 22

Authenticated OS command execution in IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 lets a remote attacker with a valid ac

CVE-2026-82110 CRITICAL
9.9 Oct 12

Authenticated path traversal in IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 allows a remote attacker holding a valid pla

CVE-2026-82101 CRITICAL
9.6 Oct 12

Denial of service in IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 can be triggered by a remote user who already holds val

CVE-2026-82107 CRITICAL
9.6 Sep 10

Improper authentication in IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 allows a remote authenticated (low-privileged) at

CVE-2026-80424 CRITICAL
9.1 Sep 10

Arbitrary file creation in IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 allows a remote authenticated attacker to write f

CVE-2026-16468 HIGH
8.8 Sep 22

OS command injection in IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 lets a remote authenticated attacker with a low-priv

CVE-2026-81537 HIGH
8.8 Sep 23

OS command injection in IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 allows a remote authenticated attacker holding only

CVE-2026-80425 HIGH
8.8 Sep 23

OS command injection in IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 lets an authenticated remote attacker with only low-

CVE-2026-80379 HIGH
8.8 Sep 23

OS command injection in IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 allows an authenticated remote attacker holding low-

CVE-2026-81547 HIGH
8.8 Sep 24

IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 allows a remote authenticated attacker with low privileges to execute arbitr

CVE-2026-16466 HIGH
8.8 Sep 14

OS command injection in IBM DataStage on Cloud Pak for Data 5.4.0.0 lets an authenticated remote user execute arbitrary

This site uses cookies essential for authentication and security. No tracking or analytics cookies are used. Privacy Policy