IBM SECURITY ADVISORY
First Issued: Tue Jun 10 08:28:43 CDT 2025
The most recent version of this document is available here:
https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/perl_advisory9.asc
Security Bulletin: AIX is vulnerable to arbitrary command execution due to
Perl (CVE-2025-33112)
===============================================================================
SUMMARY:
Vulnerability in AIX's Perl could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary
commands (CVE-2025-33112). AIX uses Perl in various operating system
components.
===============================================================================
VULNERABILITY DETAILS:
CVEID: CVE-2025-33112
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-33112
DESCRIPTION: IBM AIX's Perl implementation could allow a non-privileged
local user to exploit a vulnerability to execute arbitrary code due
to improper neutralization of pathname input.
CVSS Base Score: 8.4
CVSS Environmental Score*: Undefined
CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)
AFFECTED PRODUCTS AND VERSIONS:
AIX 7.3 TL3
VIOS 4.1.1
The following fileset levels are vulnerable:
key_fileset = aix
Fileset Lower Level Upper Level KEY
---------------------------------------------------------
perl.rte 5.38.0.0 5.38.2.0 key_w_fs
Note:
A. Latest level of Perl fileset is available from the web download site:
https://www.ibm.com/resources/mrs/assets?source=aixbp
To find out whether the affected filesets are installed
on your systems, refer to the lslpp command found in AIX user's guide.
Example: lslpp -L | grep -i perl.rte
REMEDIATION:
A. FIXES
IBM strongly recommends addressing the vulnerability now.
The AIX and VIOS fixes can be downloaded via https from:
https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/perl_fix9.tar
The link above is to a tar file containing this signed
advisory, install packages, and OpenSSL signatures for each
package. The fixes below include prerequisite checking. This will
enforce the correct mapping between the fixes and AIX
Technology Levels.
To extract the fixes from the tar file:
tar xvf perl_fix9.tar
IMPORTANT: If possible, it is recommended that a mksysb backup
of the system be created. Verify it is both bootable and
readable before proceeding.
To preview the fix installation:
installp -apYd . perl
To install the fix package:
installp -aXYd . perl
Verify you have retrieved the fixes intact:
The checksums below were generated using the
"openssl dgst -sha256 [file]" command as the following:
openssl dgst -sha256 filename KEY
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
65a0f80094fcf02793b86799d8e66485bd7a76443645706cc4cfea2123918193 perl.rte.5.38.2.1 key_w_csum
These sums should match exactly. The OpenSSL signatures in the tar
file and on this advisory can also be used to verify the
integrity of the fixes. If the sums or signatures cannot be
confirmed, contact IBM Support at
http://ibm.com/support/ and describe the discrepancy.
openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [advisory_file].sig [advisory_file]
openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [ifix_file].sig [ifix_file]
Published advisory OpenSSL signature file location:
https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/perl_advisory9.asc.sig
B. FIX AND INTERIM FIX INSTALLATION
If possible, it is recommended that a mksysb backup of the system
be created. Verify it is both bootable and readable before
proceeding.
To preview the fileset installation:
installp -apYd . perl
To install the fileset update:
installp -aXYd . perl
Interim fixes have had limited functional and regression
testing but not the full regression testing that takes place
for Service Packs; however, IBM does fully support them.
Interim fix management documentation can be found at:
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/managing-interim-fixes-aix
To preview an interim fix installation:
emgr -e ipkg_name -p # where ipkg_name is the name of the
# interim fix package being previewed.
To install an interim fix package:
emgr -e ipkg_name -X # where ipkg_name is the name of the
# interim fix package being installed.
WORKAROUNDS AND MITIGATIONS:
None.
===============================================================================
CONTACT US:
Note: Keywords labeled as KEY in this document are used for parsing
purposes.
If you would like to receive AIX Security Advisories via email,
please visit "My Notifications":
http://www.ibm.com/support/mynotifications
Contact IBM Support for questions related to this announcement:
https://ibm.com/support/
For information on how to securely verify AIX security bulletins and fixes:
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6985269
To obtain the OpenSSL public key that can be used to verify the
signed advisories and ifixes:
Download the key from our web page:
https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/systems_p_os_aix_security_pubkey.txt
To verify the AIX/VIOS security bulletin:
Published advisory OpenSSL signature file location:
https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/efixes/security/perl_advisory8.asc.sig
openssl dgst -sha256 -verify [pubkey_file] -signature [advisory_file].sig [advisory_file]
Please contact your local IBM AIX support center for any
assistance.
REFERENCES:
Complete CVSS v3 Guide: http://www.first.org/cvss/user-guide
On-line Calculator v3:
http://www.first.org/cvss/calculator/3.0
RELATED INFORMATION:
IBM Secure Engineering Web Portal
http://www.ibm.com/security/secure-engineering/bulletins.html
IBM Product Security Incident Response Blog
https://www.ibm.com/blogs/psirt/
Security Bulletin: AIX is vulnerable to arbitrary command execution due
to Perl (CVE-2025-33112)
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7236103
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
None.
CHANGE HISTORY:
First Issued: Tue Jun 10 08:28:43 CDT 2025
===============================================================================
*The CVSS Environment Score is customer environment specific and will
ultimately impact the Overall CVSS Score. Customers can evaluate the impact
of this vulnerability in their environments by accessing the links in the
Reference section of this Security Bulletin.
Disclaimer
According to the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), the
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is an "industry open standard
designed to convey vulnerability severity and help to determine urgency and
priority of response." IBM PROVIDES THE CVSS SCORES "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY
OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT
OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL SECURITY VULNERABILITY.