Administrator impersonation via client-side authorization tampering
Published May 19, 2026 · Updated May 19, 2026
Client-side authorization in Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect 17.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to impersonate administrators. The desktop client enforces role restrictions and accepts a locally modified login flow, so debugger-assisted tampering can select any repository identity. Valid repository credentials and client modification are required; successful impersonation permits unrestricted repository changes.
Summary
What happened
Client-side authorization in Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect 17.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to impersonate administrators. The desktop client enforces role restrictions and accepts a locally modified login flow, so debugger-assisted tampering can select any repository identity. Valid repository credentials and client modification are required; successful impersonation permits unrestricted repository changes.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-42098
- Published
- May 19, 2026
- Updated
- May 19, 2026
- Vendor
- Sparx Systems
- Product
- Enterprise Architect
- Classifications
- CWE-603, T1078
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 19, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <=17.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Public exploit references
- Sparx Enterprise Architect authorization-bypass proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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