# CVE-2020-10189: Zoho ManageEngine Desktop Central File Upload

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via unsafe deserialization in Zoho ManageEngine Desktop Central servlets.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AC:L/AV:N/A:H/C:H/I:H/PR:N/S:U/UI:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 3 Nov 2021 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 6 Mar 2020
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-cx3q-6fpx-362x

## What is CVE-2020-10189?

CVE-2020-10189 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in n/a, published on 6 Mar 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Zoho ManageEngine Desktop Central before 10.0.474 allows remote code execution because of deserialization of untrusted data in getChartImage in the FileStorage class. This is related to the CewolfServlet and MDMLogUploaderServlet servlets.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-10189?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Zohocorp Manageengine Desktop Central.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-10189?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-10189 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 3 May 2022.

## Is CVE-2020-10189 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2020-10189 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021.

Public exploit code:

- https://github.com/zavke/CVE-2020-10189-ManageEngine (github_poc): https://github.com/zavke/CVE-2020-10189-ManageEngine
- ManageEngine Desktop Central Java Deserialization (metasploit)
- ManageEngine Desktop Central - Java Deserialization (Metasploit) (exploitdb)
- ManageEngine Desktop Central Java Deserialization (nuclei): http/cves/2020/CVE-2020-10189.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2021-44515](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-44515/): Zoho Desktop Central Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-7213](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7213/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2014-9371](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-9371/): Code injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2020-15588](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-15588/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-8540](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8540/): XML external entity in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-10189 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-10189 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in n/a, published on 6 Mar 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2020-10189 in the wild since at least 3 Nov 2021.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-10189/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-10189/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-10189
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-10189
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-10189

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-10189/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.