CVE-2026-10540: Control-M Enterprise Manager Weak Password Hash Protection

Technical summary

CVE-2026-10540 involves the use of inadequate password hashing mechanisms in Control-M/Enterprise Manager's credential storage. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-328 (Use of Insufficiently Random Values), indicating that the hashing algorithm or its implementation does not provide sufficient entropy or computational difficulty to resist offline brute-force or dictionary attacks. An attacker with read access to the password storage location can mount offline cryptanalysis to recover plaintext credentials. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:L) reflects local attack vector, high privilege requirement, confidentiality impact, and limited integrity and availability impact.

Business impact

Compromise of Control-M/Enterprise Manager credentials could allow an authenticated attacker to escalate privileges or move laterally within the Control-M environment to tamper with job scheduling, data processing workflows, and business-critical automation. Depending on the organization's reliance on Control-M for production workflows, an attacker with administrative credentials could disrupt service availability, modify or exfiltrate sensitive data managed by Control-M jobs, or establish persistence. The threat is elevated in environments where Control-M integrates with financial systems, data warehouses, or compliance-sensitive processes.

Affected systems

Control-M/Enterprise Manager versions 9.0.20.x and potentially earlier unsupported versions are affected. Version 9.0.20.x is explicitly confirmed; organizations running any earlier version in the 9.x series should verify their exact build number against vendor advisories and assume risk unless confirmed patched. Support status should be verified with BMC Software, as unsupported versions may not receive fixes.

Exploitability

Exploitation requires an attacker to first obtain the password hash file, necessitating local or authenticated access, database breach, or backup file exposure. The attack itself is then fully offline and does not require network connectivity or user interaction. Once hashes are obtained, the weak cryptographic protection makes password recovery practical using standard password recovery tools and commodity computing resources. The high privilege requirement in the CVSS vector indicates that initial compromise of a high-privilege account or system access is the primary barrier; the vulnerability itself is not network-exploitable.

Remediation

Organizations using Control-M/Enterprise Manager 9.0.20.x should immediately verify their version and contact BMC Software for patch availability and upgrade guidance. Unsupported versions should be prioritized for upgrade to a currently maintained release. Until patching is possible, implement strict access controls on the Control-M credential database files and audit logs, restrict local access to Enterprise Manager systems, and enable encryption at rest for credential storage. Consider enforcing regular password rotation and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to the credential repository.

Patch guidance

Verify your exact Control-M/Enterprise Manager version against BMC Software's security advisories. Patch availability depends on the specific version and BMC's current support policy. Unsupported versions (9.0.20.x and earlier) may not receive patches; upgrade to a supported release. Test patches in a non-production environment before deployment to ensure compatibility with dependent systems and job workflows. Coordinate patching with change management to minimize disruption to scheduled jobs.

Detection guidance

Monitor for unauthorized access to Control-M/Enterprise Manager configuration and credential storage directories. Enable and review audit logs for failed authentication attempts, privilege escalation, and changes to user accounts or job definitions. Detect suspicious use of Control-M utilities or APIs that could indicate use of compromised credentials. Perform hash analysis on stored credentials if you can safely extract them in a test environment to confirm whether weak hashing is present. Monitor for offline password cracking activity on networks hosting Control-M systems, though such activity may be difficult to detect if occurring on external systems.

Why prioritize this

Although the CVSS score is moderate (5.6), the vulnerability directly threatens administrative credential confidentiality in a system that controls business workflows and automation. Unsupported version status means no future security updates are likely. Organizations relying on Control-M for critical processes should prioritize remediation to reduce the window of exposure, especially if the system stores or processes sensitive data or manages access to downstream systems.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 5.6 (MEDIUM) reflects local attack vector, requiring high privilege or prior credential compromise, but results in high confidentiality impact (full recovery of plaintext passwords) and limited integrity and availability impact. The score does not account for the business criticality of Control-M in many organizations or the organizational risk of widespread credential compromise; risk should be contextualized based on your environment's dependency on Control-M and the sensitivity of downstream systems it manages.

Frequently asked questions