BarTender 2021: Deserialization of Untrusted Data
CVE-2026-25551 is a high-severity deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability in BarTender 2021 from Seagull Software, LLC., 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. Affected BarTender 2021 versions: R1 through 12.0.1. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.13% 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
- Check which version of BarTender 2021 you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seagull Software, LLC. | BarTender 2021 | R1 through 12.0.1 | Not stated |
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 CNA (vulncheck.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.5 | High | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
Official description
Seagull Software BarTender 2021 R1 through 12.0.1 contains an insecure deserialization vulnerability that allows low-privileged local users to escalate privileges. The DataServiceSingleton .NET Remoting endpoint is bound to localhost on TCP port 7375 via BtSystem.Service.exe, limiting the attack surface to local access only. The endpoint is configured with BinaryServerFormatterSinkProvider and TypeFilterLevel set to Full. A low-privileged local attacker can send YSoSerial.NET-generated BinaryFormatter payloads to the localhost-bound endpoint to achieve code execution as NT AUTHORITY\\\\SYSTEM. The vulnerability was corrected in BarTender 12.1, released on August 14, 2026. Users should upgrade to BarTender 12.1 or later.
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: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Recent Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerabilities
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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