CVE-2024-28986
SolarWinds Web Help Desk Deserialization of Untrusted Data Vulnerability
SolarWinds Web Help Desk
SolarWinds Web Help Desk was found to be susceptible to a Java Deserialization Remote Code Execution vulnerability that, if exploited, would allow an attacker to run commands on the host machine. While it was reported as an unauthenticated vulnerability, SolarWinds has been unable to reproduce it without authentication after thorough testing. However, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend all Web Help Desk customers apply the patch, which is now available.
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 15 August 2024. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 5 September 2024.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 84.6%, which is higher than 99.7% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2024-28986 being exploited by ransomware groups?
No ransomware group in this database is currently recorded as exploiting CVE-2024-28986.
What does CVE-2024-28986 affect?
CVE-2024-28986 affects SolarWinds Web Help Desk. SolarWinds Web Help Desk was found to be susceptible to a Java Deserialization Remote Code Execution vulnerability that, if exploited, would allow an attacker to run commands on the host machine. While it was reported as an unauthenticated vulnerability, SolarWinds has been unable to reproduce it without authentication after thorough testing. However, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend all Web Help Desk customers apply the patch, which is now available.
How severe is CVE-2024-28986?
CVE-2024-28986 is rated CRITICAL with a CVSS base score of 9.8. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 84.6%, higher than 99.7% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 5 September 2024.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2024-28986?
Apply the vendor patch for SolarWinds Web Help Desk as the first priority, and treat any internet-facing instance as the most urgent. Because this vulnerability is associated with ransomware activity, also review whether the affected systems were reachable before patching, rather than assuming that patching alone closes the incident.