CVE-2025-40536
SolarWinds Web Help Desk Security Control Bypass Vulnerability
SolarWinds Web Help Desk
SolarWinds Web Help Desk was found to be susceptible to a security control bypass vulnerability that if exploited, could allow an unauthenticated attacker to gain access to certain restricted functionality.
Exploitation status
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
Listed by CISA on 12 February 2026. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 15 February 2026.
EPSS — exploitation probability
FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 73.6%, which is higher than 99.5% 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:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Frequently asked questions
Is CVE-2025-40536 being exploited by ransomware groups?
No ransomware group in this database is currently recorded as exploiting CVE-2025-40536.
What does CVE-2025-40536 affect?
CVE-2025-40536 affects SolarWinds Web Help Desk. SolarWinds Web Help Desk was found to be susceptible to a security control bypass vulnerability that if exploited, could allow an unauthenticated attacker to gain access to certain restricted functionality.
How severe is CVE-2025-40536?
CVE-2025-40536 is rated HIGH with a CVSS base score of 8.1. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 73.6%, higher than 99.5% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 15 February 2026.
How should organisations respond to CVE-2025-40536?
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.