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CVE-2016-5934 IBM CVE debrief

CVE-2016-5934 describes a DLL search-order hijack issue in the IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack installer. According to the published description, an attacker who can place a specially crafted DLL in the victim's path may cause the installer to run arbitrary code when it is executed. The NVD record rates the issue High with a CVSS 3.0 vector of AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. This is primarily a software integrity and execution-risk issue during installer launch, not a network service flaw. The impact is execution of attacker-controlled code with the privileges of the user who runs the installer, so exposure depends on whether the affected installer is present and how it is launched in practice.

Vendor
IBM
Product
CVE-2016-5934
CVSS
HIGH 7.3
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2017-02-08
Original CVE updated
2026-05-13
Advisory published
2017-02-08
Advisory updated
2026-05-13

Who should care

Administrators, endpoint security teams, and users who deploy or run IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack installers should care most. Any environment that still contains the affected installer path or uses older FastBack media is at risk when a user launches the installer from a directory that may contain attacker-controlled DLLs.

Technical summary

The NVD entry identifies IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack as vulnerable via cpe:2.3:a:ibm:tivoli_storage_manager_fastback:*:*:*:*:demo:*:*:* and assigns CWE-264. The published description says a specially crafted DLL placed in the victim's path can be loaded by the installer, allowing arbitrary code execution. The CVSS vector provided by NVD is CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating local conditions and user interaction are required.

Defensive priority

High. If the affected installer is still in use or archived on systems used by operators, it should be treated as a priority exposure because successful abuse can result in code execution under the launching user's privileges.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Confirm whether IBM Tivoli Storage Manager FastBack installer media or binaries are present in your environment.
  • Remove or replace affected installer packages with vendor-fixed or supported alternatives where available.
  • Do not run the installer from directories that may contain untrusted DLLs or other attacker-controlled files.
  • Use application control and endpoint protection to restrict unsigned or unexpected DLL loading in installer workflows.
  • Review software distribution and support documentation for the IBM advisory referenced by NVD and apply any vendor guidance available.

Evidence notes

This debrief is based on the published CVE description and the NVD modified record supplied in the source corpus. The corpus states that a specially crafted DLL in the victim's path can be used when the installer is executed to run arbitrary code. NVD also supplies the CVSS 3.0 vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H and lists CWE-264. No additional remediation details were included in the corpus beyond vendor/advisory reference links.

Official resources

Publicly disclosed in the CVE/NVD record published on 2017-02-08T22:59:00.637Z; the source corpus also includes a later NVD modification timestamp of 2026-05-13T00:24:29.033Z.