Description

IBM App Connect Enterprise 13.0.1.0 through 13.0.8.0, and 12.0.1.0 through 12.0.12.27 could allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code due to insecure deserialization.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "7.8",
  "pubDate": "2026-09-14T20:16:41.593Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-09-14T20:16:41.593Z",
  "executiveSummary": "IBM App Connect Enterprise is susceptible to an arbitrary code execution vulnerability stemming from insecure deserialization of untrusted data.\nThe vulnerability affects versions 13.0.1.0 through 13.0.8.0 and 12.0.1.0 through 12.0.12.27.\nThis flaw allows a local attacker to manipulate serialized objects, leading to the execution of arbitrary code within the context of the application process.\nSuccessful exploitation poses a critical risk to system integrity and confidentiality, as it enables unauthorized command execution.\nThe attack is characterized as a local vector, necessitating that the threat actor already possesses local access to the target environment to trigger the deserialization process.\nGiven the nature of insecure deserialization, the impact can extend to a full system compromise, depending on the privileges of the affected application service account.\nOrganizations are advised to prioritize the application of vendor-supplied security patches to remediate the underlying deserialization flaw.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability originates from the improper handling of serialized objects within IBM App Connect Enterprise. Insecure deserialization occurs when the application accepts and processes data streams containing serialized objects without sufficient validation, integrity checks, or sanitization of the class types and attributes contained within the payload.\nWhen the application deserializes the crafted input, it may inadvertently instantiate unexpected classes or trigger unintended methods (gadget chains) present within the application's classpath. By carefully constructing a malicious serialized payload, an attacker can manipulate the application's logic flow to execute arbitrary code with the system privileges assigned to the IBM App Connect process.\nThe attack flow begins with the attacker identifying an entry point where the application accepts serialized objects, typically via specific inter-process communication channels or local management interfaces available to local users. The attacker crafts a payload that leverages existing libraries or application components—functioning as 'gadgets'—to perform actions outside the intended scope of the application.\nUpon transmission of the malicious payload to the vulnerable component, the application’s deserialization routine is triggered. The runtime environment interprets the payload, reconstructs the object hierarchy, and during this process, executes the methods contained within the gadget chain. Because the execution occurs within the application's runtime context, it bypasses standard authorization checks that would otherwise govern normal service functions.\nThis vulnerability is restricted to local attackers, meaning the adversary must have established a presence on the host system to interact with the vulnerable interface. This often includes local users with limited privileges or attackers who have previously compromised a lower-tier process on the host. Once the exploit is successful, the post-exploitation impact includes the ability to execute OS commands, exfiltrate sensitive configuration data, or establish persistence by leveraging the elevated privileges often assigned to enterprise integration software.\nThe affected versions, specifically 13.0.1.0 through 13.0.8.0 and 12.0.1.0 through 12.0.12.27, have been identified as failing to implement robust serialization safeguards, such as object input filters or look-ahead deserialization, that would prevent the instantiation of malicious class types. Remediation requires an update to the underlying serialization handling mechanisms within the application to enforce strict type checking or to move away from binary serialization formats where possible."
}