How severe is CVE-2012-4856?

CVE-2012-4856 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.9, rated high severity.

Is CVE-2012-4856 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (64th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2012-4856?

CVE-2012-4856 primarily affects Ibm Power 5 System Firmware. In total, 40 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2012-4856?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2012-4856 published?

CVE-2012-4856 was published on 2012-12-20 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2012-4856

CVE-2012-4856 is a high-severity vulnerability in Ibm Power 5 System Firmware with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.9. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-255.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 2.0 base score 7.9)
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (64th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-255
Affected product: Ibm Power 5 System Firmware
Published: 2012-12-20
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The Service Processor in the IBM Power 5 91##-### and 940#-### before SF240_418_382 does not ensure that firewall code is executed, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2012-4856?: The Service Processor in the IBM Power 5 91##-### and 940#-### before SF240_418_382 does not ensure that firewall code is executed, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
How severe is CVE-2012-4856?: CVE-2012-4856 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.9, rated high severity.
Is CVE-2012-4856 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (64th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2012-4856?: CVE-2012-4856 primarily affects Ibm Power 5 System Firmware. In total, 40 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2012-4856?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2012-4856 published?: CVE-2012-4856 was published on 2012-12-20 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (40)

cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_201_201:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_202_201:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_219_201:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_222_201:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_233_201:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_258_201:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_259_201:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_261_201:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_284_201:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_298_201:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_299_201:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_320_201:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_332_201:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_338_201:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_358_201:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_371:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_382_382:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_403_382:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_415_382:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:ibm:power_5_system_firmware:sf240_417:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9110-51a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9110-510:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9111-285:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9111-520:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9113-550:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9115-505:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9116-561:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9117-570:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9118-575:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9123-710:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9124-720:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9131-52a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9133-55a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9405-520:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9406-520:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9406-525:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9406-550:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9406-570:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:ibm:power_5:9407-515:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

Other CWE-255 (Credentials Management Errors) vulnerabilities

CVE-2016-0898 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): MySQL for PCF tiles 1.7.x before 1.7.10 were discovered to log the AWS access key in plaintext. These credentials were…
CVE-2015-7906 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): LOYTEC LIP-3ECTB 6.0.1, LINX-100, LVIS-3E100, and LIP-ME201 devices allow remote attackers to read a password-hash…
CVE-2015-7856 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): OpenNMS has a default password of rtc for the rtc account, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access…
CVE-2014-9736 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): GE Healthcare Centricity Clinical Archive Audit Trail Repository has a default password of initinit for the (1) SSL key…
CVE-2014-7233 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): GE Healthcare Precision THUNIS-800+ has a default password of (1) 1973 for the factory default System Utilities menu,…
CVE-2014-7232 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): GE Healthcare Discovery XR656 and XR656 G2 has a password of (1) 2getin for the insite user, (2) 4$xray for the xruser…

Browse all CWE-255 (Credentials Management Errors) vulnerabilities →