Description

A Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in Ivanti Neurons for ITSM before 2026.2 allows a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on the server.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "8.8",
  "pubDate": "2026-09-08T15:18:40.733Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-09-08T15:18:40.733Z",
  "executiveSummary": "A critical Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability exists in Ivanti Neurons for ITSM, specifically affecting versions prior to 2026.2.\nThe vulnerability enables a remote authenticated attacker to achieve Remote Code Execution (RCE) on the underlying server, potentially leading to a total system compromise.\nThis flaw resides in how the application processes serialized objects from untrusted sources, allowing for the injection and subsequent execution of malicious payloads.\nImpact includes full server takeover, data exfiltration, unauthorized modification of ITSM records, and persistence within the enterprise network.\nSuccessful exploitation requires the attacker to be authenticated, though it does not necessitate administrative privileges, significantly increasing the risk surface for organizations relying on this platform for enterprise service management.\nGiven the nature of RCE vulnerabilities, the risk level is critical, as it bypasses standard application-layer security controls and operates within the security context of the server process.",
  "technicalDetails": "The root cause of this vulnerability is the insecure deserialization of untrusted data within the Ivanti Neurons for ITSM architecture. Deserialization involves converting a stream of bytes back into an object; if the application does not implement strict type validation or utilize safe deserialization mechanisms, an attacker can supply a crafted serialized object containing malicious instructions or references to unintended classes.\nUpon deserialization, if an application lacks proper protections, the attacker-supplied object can trigger unintended code paths. In the context of Ivanti Neurons for ITSM, an authenticated attacker can leverage this flaw to invoke arbitrary methods or instantiate unexpected objects within the application's process memory.\nThe attack flow typically follows a structured progression: First, the attacker identifies an endpoint or service that accepts serialized data as input. Second, the attacker crafts a malicious payload—frequently using tools that automate the generation of gadget chains—designed to execute operating system commands or malicious scripts upon reconstruction of the object.\nThird, the attacker authenticates to the application using valid (though potentially low-privileged) credentials and sends the payload to the vulnerable endpoint. The server, failing to validate the integrity or the class type of the deserialized data, processes the payload. As the runtime environment deserializes the object, the gadget chain is executed, resulting in the invocation of arbitrary code in the security context of the application's service account.\nBecause the execution happens on the server side, the attacker can leverage the service account's permissions to interact with the underlying operating system. This grants the attacker capabilities such as file system manipulation, command execution, or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerable components are likely internal service handlers responsible for processing incoming requests that contain serialized objects. The exposure is limited to authenticated remote attackers, but the impact is severe due to the potential for full environment compromise.\nPost-exploitation, an attacker may attempt to install backdoors, escalate privileges, or access sensitive backend databases associated with ITSM operations, thereby compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the entire service management infrastructure."
}