CVE-2025-55118 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified in BMC's Control-M/Agent software versions 9.0.18 through 9.0.22. The flaw arises specifically when SSL/TLS communication is configured with non-default parameters: in version 9.0.20, when "use_openssl=n" is set, and in versions 9.0.21 and 9.0.22, when both "JAVA_AR=N" and "use_openssl=n" are configured. These settings alter the cryptographic communication stack, leading to improper memory handling that can be exploited remotely without authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability is categorized under multiple CWEs related to memory corruption and buffer overflows (CWE-122, CWE-125, CWE-787, among others), indicating complex memory safety issues. The CVSS 4.0 base score of 8.4 reflects a high severity, with network attack vector, high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, and no required privileges or user interaction. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the potential for remote code execution or denial of service is significant. The vulnerability affects the core agent responsible for job scheduling and workload automation, which are critical functions in enterprise IT environments. The lack of available patches at the time of publication necessitates immediate mitigation through configuration changes and network controls. This vulnerability highlights risks introduced by non-default cryptographic configurations and the importance of rigorous testing and secure defaults in enterprise software.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-55118 can be severe due to the widespread use of BMC Control-M/Agent in automating critical business processes and IT workloads. Exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely, disrupt job scheduling, or cause denial of service, leading to operational downtime and potential data breaches. Confidentiality could be compromised if attackers gain access to sensitive job data or credentials managed by the agent. Integrity risks arise from the possibility of tampering with scheduled tasks, potentially causing erroneous or malicious operations. Availability impacts include service interruptions affecting business continuity. Given the vulnerability requires no authentication and no user interaction, it lowers the barrier for attackers, increasing risk exposure. European sectors such as finance, manufacturing, telecommunications, and government entities that rely heavily on automation tools are particularly vulnerable. The absence of known exploits provides a window for proactive defense, but the high severity demands urgent attention to prevent exploitation, especially in environments with non-default SSL/TLS configurations.

1. Immediately review and revert SSL/TLS configuration settings in Control-M/Agent to default values, specifically setting "use_openssl" to "yes" and enabling "JAVA_AR" where applicable. 2. Monitor BMC's official channels for patches addressing CVE-2025-55118 and apply them promptly once released. 3. Implement network segmentation to restrict access to Control-M/Agent instances, limiting exposure to trusted management networks only. 4. Deploy intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) with signatures or heuristics to detect anomalous traffic patterns targeting Control-M/Agent communication ports. 5. Conduct thorough audits of Control-M/Agent configurations across the enterprise to identify and remediate any non-default or insecure settings. 6. Employ application-layer firewalls or proxies to enforce strict SSL/TLS policies and prevent malformed packets from reaching the agent. 7. Establish continuous monitoring and logging of Control-M/Agent activity to detect early signs of exploitation attempts. 8. Educate system administrators on the risks of non-default cryptographic configurations and enforce change management policies to prevent insecure settings. 9. Consider temporary disabling of affected Control-M/Agent instances in high-risk environments until mitigations or patches are applied. 10. Coordinate with BMC support for guidance and best practices tailored to your deployment.