CVE-2025-40536: SolarWinds Web Help Desk < 12.8.8 Hotfix 1 (HF1) - Security Control Bypass

2026-02-24 SolarWinds Web Help Desk PoC Public

Description

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.

PoC

id: CVE-2025-40536

info:
  name: SolarWinds Web Help Desk < 12.8.8 Hotfix 1 (HF1) - Security Control Bypass
  author: inokii
  severity: high
  description: |
    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.
  impact: |
    Attackers can gain access to certain restricted functionality.
  remediation: |
    Apply the available 12.8.8 Hotfix 1 (HF1) or upgrade to version 2026.1.
  reference:
    - https://www.solarwinds.com/trust-center/security-advisories/cve-2025-40536
    - https://documentation.solarwinds.com/en/success_center/whd/content/release_notes/whd_2026-1_release_notes.htm
    - https://horizon3.ai/attack-research/cve-2025-40551-another-solarwinds-web-help-desk-deserialization-issue/
  classification:
    cve-id: CVE-2025-40536
    epss-score: 0.8196
    epss-percentile: 0.99633
    cvss-metrics: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
    cvss-score: 8.1
    cwe-id: CWE-693
    cpe: cpe:2.3:a:solarwinds:web_help_desk:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  metadata:
    verified: true
    max-request: 1
    vendor: solarwinds
    product: web_help_desk
    shodan-query: http.favicon.hash:"1895809524"
  tags: cve,cve2025,solarwinds,webhelpdesk,kev,vkev,passive

http:
  - method: GET
    path:
      - "{{BaseURL}}/helpdesk/WebObjects/Helpdesk.woa"

    host-redirects: true
    max-redirects: 2

    extractors:
      - type: regex
        name: build_token
        part: body
        group: 1
        regex:
          - "\\?v=([0-9]+_[0-9]+_[0-9]+_[0-9]+)"
        internal: true

      - type: dsl
        name: version
        dsl:
          - "replace(build_token, '_', '.')"

    matchers-condition: and
    matchers:
      - type: word
        words:
          - "Web Help Desk Software"
          - "SolarWinds WorldWide"
          - "/WebObjects/Helpdesk.woa"
        condition: or

      - type: dsl
        dsl:
          - "compare_versions(version, '< 12.8.8.2585')"
# digest: 4a0a00473045022100ee4cabba1b70046732123ebc5c54aca345e934c4e24d6ea4290a9c87738850b102205ead475773fdbbae2e97e12b4f7a9a189a673cbeaa92407f77ce23b226c78689:922c64590222798bb761d5b6d8e72950

# Visit https://trap.biu.life/ to view exploit trends for this vulnerability.

References

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