---
id: "CVE-2026-12148"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-12148"]
title: "IBM MQ Operator: authenticated user can crash it or run code"
severity: "high"
cvss: 8.8
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "vendor"
products: [{"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": ">= 2.0.0, <= 2.0.29", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": ">= 3.2.0, <= 3.2.29", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.3.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.4.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.4.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.5.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.5.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.5.2", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.5.3", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.6.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.6.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.6.2", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.6.3", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.6.4", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.7.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.7.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.7.2", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.8.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.8.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.9.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.9.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 3.9.2", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 4.0.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 4.0.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 4.0.2", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 4.0.3", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm mq operator", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 4.0.4", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm supplied mq advanced container images", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 9.4.1.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm supplied mq advanced container images", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 9.4.1.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm supplied mq advanced container images", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 9.4.2.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm supplied mq advanced container images", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 9.4.2.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm supplied mq advanced container images", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 9.4.3.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm supplied mq advanced container images", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 9.4.3.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm supplied mq advanced container images", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 9.4.4.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm supplied mq advanced container images", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 9.4.4.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm supplied mq advanced container images", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 9.4.5.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm supplied mq advanced container images", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 9.4.5.1", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm supplied mq advanced container images", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 10.0.0.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm supplied mq advanced container images", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 10.0.0.5", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "ibm supplied mq advanced container images", "fixed": [], "affected": "= 9.3.0.0", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["ibm-mq", "java", "kubernetes", "openshift", "vendor"]
not_affected_if: ["no-mq-operator-installed", "version-outside-listed-ranges"]
published_at: "2026-10-19T17:17:17+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:18+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T22:33:06+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-12148", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:18+00:00"}]
---

# IBM MQ Operator: authenticated user can crash it or run code

IBM MQ Operator deserializes untrusted Java objects in its MQ Classes for Java component without restriction. An authenticated attacker can cause a denial of service or potentially execute arbitrary code.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:ibm mq operator affected >= 2.0.0, <= 2.0.29 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected >= 3.2.0, <= 3.2.29 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.3.0 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.4.0 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.4.1 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.5.0 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.5.1 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.5.2 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.5.3 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.6.0 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.6.1 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.6.2 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.6.3 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.6.4 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.7.0 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.7.1 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.7.2 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.8.0 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.8.1 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.9.0 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.9.1 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 3.9.2 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 4.0.0 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 4.0.1 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 4.0.2 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 4.0.3 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm mq operator affected = 4.0.4 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm supplied mq advanced container images affected = 9.4.1.0 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm supplied mq advanced container images affected = 9.4.1.1 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm supplied mq advanced container images affected = 9.4.2.0 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm supplied mq advanced container images affected = 9.4.2.1 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm supplied mq advanced container images affected = 9.4.3.0 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm supplied mq advanced container images affected = 9.4.3.1 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm supplied mq advanced container images affected = 9.4.4.0 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm supplied mq advanced container images affected = 9.4.4.1 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm supplied mq advanced container images affected = 9.4.5.0 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm supplied mq advanced container images affected = 9.4.5.1 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm supplied mq advanced container images affected = 10.0.0.0 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm supplied mq advanced container images affected = 10.0.0.5 fixed ?
- vendor:ibm supplied mq advanced container images affected = 9.3.0.0 fixed ?

## How to check

Check the installed MQ Operator version (for example with oc get csv or helm list, depending on how it was installed) and compare it against the affected ranges: 2.0.0 to 2.0.29, 3.2.0 to 3.2.29, and exactly 3.3.0 through 3.6.2 listed individually.

## Fix

Upgrade the IBM MQ Operator to a fixed release listed in the IBM security bulletin for CVE-2026-12148; the fixed version numbers are unknown from the sources.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T21:57:18+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-12148

## From the sources

IBM MQ Operator could allow an authenticated attacker to cause a denial of service or potentially execute arbitrary code due to unrestricted Java deserialization in the MQ Classes for Java.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_