Control-M/Enterprise Manager: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
CVE-2026-10538 is a high-severity deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability in Control-M/Enterprise Manager from BMC, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.0 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists version 9.0.21 as the first without the flaw, so updating Control-M/Enterprise Manager to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.42% 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/Enterprise Manager to 9.0.21 or a later version.
- Update Control-M/Server to 9.0.21 or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMC | Control-M/Enterprise Manager | 9.0.20 up to, but not including, 9.0.21 | 9.0.21 |
| BMC | Control-M/Server | 9.0.20 up to, but not including, 9.0.21 | 9.0.21 |
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
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
- Privileges required
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- 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:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (airbus.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.9 | High | CNA (airbus.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.0 | High | CNA (airbus.com) |
Official description
Messaging consumer functionality allows deserialization of user-controlled data without sufficient restriction of allowed object types in the out of support Control-M/Server and Control-M/Enterprise Manager versions 9.0.20.x and potentially earlier. This issue may allow an authenticated attacker to trigger unintended server-side behavior through crafted serialized content.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- If available, use the signing/sealing features of the programming language to assure that deserialized data has not been tainted. For example, a hash-based message authentication code (HMAC) could be used to ensure that data has not been modified.
- When deserializing data, populate a new object rather than just deserializing. The result is that the data flows through safe input validation and that the functions are safe.
- Explicitly define a final object() to prevent deserialization.
More Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerabilities (CWE-502)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
References
Other references
Recent Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerabilities
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