Stack-based buffer overflow in pcspref.dll in pcsws.exe in IBM Personal Communications 5.9.x before 5.9.8 and 6.0.x before 6.0.4 might allow
Stack-based buffer overflow in pcspref.dll in pcsws.exe in IBM Personal Communications 5.9.x before 5.9.8 and 6.0.x before 6.0.4 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long profile string in a WorkStation (aka .ws) file.
- Published
- Mar 2, 2012
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 36.8% · 98th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-119
Sign in to follow · You’ll be notified if a followed record enters KEV, gets an exploit or is updated.
Report tools
Action score
48
Plan
Add it to your regular patch cycle.
- CVSS
- 37 / 40 · 9.3 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 11 / 30 · 36.8%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| ibm | personal communications | cpe:2.3:a:ibm:personal_communications |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- ibm personal communications5.9.7.0
- ibm personal communications5.9.7.1
- ibm personal communications6.0.3.0
Same product
ibm: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2024-25029IBM Personal Communications code execution40Plan
- CVE-2025-1095IBM Personal Communications command execution31Monitor
- CVE-2016-0321IBM Personal Communications (aka PCOMM) 6.x before 6.0.17 and 12.x before 12.0.0.1 does not properly restrict credential extraction, which a24Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
No fix version is recorded for this entry. Check the references for vendor advisories.
Exploit status
Weaponized
A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.
Evidence
- Metasploit module ×1
- Exploit-DB entry ×1
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB entry | remote | 2012-02-29 |
| Metasploit module | exploit/windows/fileformat/ibm_pcm_wsIBM Personal Communications iSeries Access WorkStation 5.9 Profileexploit | 2012-02-28 |
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- Metasploit-3 d
- First PoC-2 d
- Published
- TodaySep 30, 2026+5325 d
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
The product’s vendor appears in a public program. Matched by name; verify the scope text in the program.
Technical details
Attack conditions
If successful
- Confidentiality
- C · data can be read
- Integrity
- C · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- C · the service can be disrupted
- Attack complexity
- M
- Confidentiality impact
- C
- Integrity impact
- C
- Availability impact
- C
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-119 · Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory BufferCVSS vector
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Buffer Overflow via Environment VariablesCAPEC-10likelihood: High · High
- Overflow BuffersCAPEC-100likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer ManipulationCAPEC-123likelihood: High · Very High
- Client-side Injection-induced Buffer OverflowCAPEC-14likelihood: Medium · High
- Filter Failure through Buffer OverflowCAPEC-24likelihood: High · High
- MIME ConversionCAPEC-42likelihood: High · High
- Overflow Binary Resource FileCAPEC-44likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer Overflow via Symbolic LinksCAPEC-45likelihood: High · High
ATT&CK techniques
—
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
No changes recorded on tracked fields yet. Score, KEV, exploit maturity and fix status changes appear here.
References
- dev.metasploit.com/redmine/projects/framework/repository/entry/modules/exploits/windows/fileformat/ibm_pcm_ws.rb
- www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg1IC81539
- www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21586166
- www.metasploit.com/modules/exploit/windows/fileformat/ibm_pcm_ws
- exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/73127
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.