Control-M/Server: Insufficiently Protected Credentials
CVE-2025-48709 is a high-severity insufficiently protected credentials vulnerability in Control-M/Server from BMC, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists version PACTV.9.0.21.307 as the first without the flaw, so updating Control-M/Server to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.14% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Control-M/Server to PACTV.9.0.21.307 or a later version.
- Update control-m to 9.0.21.300 PACTV.9.0.21.307 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on docs.bmc.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMC | Control-M/Server | 9.0.21.300 up to, but not including, PACTV.9.0.21.307 | PACTV.9.0.21.307 |
| Bmc | control-m | 9.0.21.300 up to, but not including, 9.0.21.300 PACTV.9.0.21.307 | 9.0.21.300 PACTV.9.0.21.307 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 4.8 | Medium | CNA |
| CVSS 3.1 | 3.8 | Low | CNA |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | NVD |
Official description
BMC Control-M/Server 9.0.21.300 displays cleartext database credentials in process lists and logs. An authenticated attacker with shell access could observe these credentials and use them to log in to the database server. For example, when Control-M/Server on Windows has a database connection on, it runs 'DBUStatus.exe' frequently, which then calls 'dbu_connection_details.vbs' with the username, password, database hostname, and port written in cleartext, which can be seen in event and process logs in two separate locations. Fixed in PACTV.9.0.21.307.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Insufficiently Protected Credentials
The product transmits or stores authentication credentials, but it uses an insecure method that is susceptible to unauthorized interception and/or retrieval.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use an appropriate security mechanism to protect the credentials.
- Make appropriate use of cryptography to protect the credentials.
- Use industry standards to protect the credentials (e.g. LDAP, keystore, etc.).
More Insufficiently Protected Credentials vulnerabilities (CWE-522)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Other vulnerabilities in Control-M/Server
- 9.0 Critical severity
- 8.0 High severity
Recent Insufficiently Protected Credentials vulnerabilities
- 7.1 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.7 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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