IBM DataPower Gateway Buffer Overflow Flaw Rated Critical in NVD Record

A critical security vulnerability has been identified in IBM DataPower Gateway, according to a record published by the National Vulnerability Database (NVD). The flaw, tracked as CVE-2026-14992, involves a buffer overflow that could allow attackers to compromise affected systems.

The National Vulnerability Database has assigned the vulnerability a CVSS score of 9.8, categorizing it as Critical. This high severity rating reflects the potential impact of the buffer overflow weakness, which is classified under CWE-787. The NVD record indicates that the vulnerability exists across a wide range of DataPower Gateway software versions, leaving numerous installations potentially exposed to exploitation.

Context and Background

The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory boundaries within the DataPower Gateway application, leading to a buffer overflow condition. Buffer overflows occur when a program writes more data to a fixed-length buffer than it can hold, potentially allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code or crash the system.

The NVD classification of CWE-787 highlights the specific nature of this weakness. In the context of enterprise security appliances like DataPower Gateway, such flaws can be particularly dangerous because these systems often sit at the perimeter of networks, handling sensitive data and traffic management. A critical rating suggests that the flaw is likely exploitable and poses a significant risk to organizations relying on these gateways for security and integration tasks.

Who Is Affected

According to the NVD record, a broad spectrum of IBM DataPower Gateway versions is vulnerable. The affected releases include:

• Version 10.5.0.0 through 10.5.0.22
• Version 10.6.1 through 10.6.6
• Version 10.6.0.0 through 10.6.0.10
• Version 11.0.0.0 through 11.0.0.2

Organizations running any of these specific version ranges should consider their systems potentially vulnerable. The inclusion of multiple major version lines (10.5, 10.6, and 11.0) indicates that the flaw persists across different release cycles, affecting both older and more recent deployments.

What should you do?

Security professionals should immediately audit their environments to identify any instances of IBM DataPower Gateway running the affected versions listed above. Given the critical severity rating, prioritizing remediation is essential.

Currently, the source material does not confirm the availability of a patch, fix, or update for CVE-2026-14992. Until a vendor-provided solution is released, organizations should monitor official IBM security advisories for guidance. In the interim, consider implementing compensating controls, such as restricting network access to the gateway or enhancing monitoring for signs of exploitation attempts related to buffer overflow attacks.

What to do and how to stay safe: IBM

• Patch scores alone ignore context like network exposure and asset criticality.
• You must map vulnerabilities to specific business risks to prioritize correctly.
• Continuous exposure data replaces static scanning for accurate prioritization.

Prioritize vulnerabilities by actual exploitability and business impact, not by theoretical severity scores. Update your asset context and exposure data continuously to maintain accurate risk rankings.

Step-by-step guide: Risk Based Vulnerability Management: Prioritize Fixes by Actual Threat

General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.

Frequently asked questions

What is the CVE ID for the IBM DataPower Gateway vulnerability?

The vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2026-14992.

Which versions of IBM DataPower Gateway are affected?

Versions 10.5.0.0-10.5.0.22, 10.6.1-10.6.6, 10.6.0.0-10.6.0.10, and 11.0.0.0-11.0.0.2 are affected.

Is there a fix available for CVE-2026-14992?

No fix has been confirmed yet in the available source material.