CVE-2025-40536KEV · OVERDUECWE-693

SolarWinds Web Help Desk Security Control Bypass Vulnerability

High · published January 28, 2026

Patch now

Confirmed exploited, and the score agrees

CVSS calls it high at 8.1. It is confirmed in active exploitation. It sits in the 99.5th percentile for exploit probability.

251
days past CISA
deadline
CVSS v3.1
8.1
EPSS
74%
Percentile
99.5
In the wild
Confirmed
What it is

⚡ An unauthenticated attacker can potentially waltz right into SolarWinds Web Help Desk and access restricted functions with this sneaky control bypass vulnerability! 🔥 Think of it like a hotel where a guest sneaks past the front desk without checking in — they can then access staff-only areas, potentially causing chaos without anyone knowing they're not a legitimate guest. If exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to manipulate backend settings, view sensitive data, and even control functionalities intended for authenticated users only. The consequences could be absolutely devastating for organizations relying on this software to manage their help desk operations.

Put simply

Think of it like a hotel where a guest sneaks past the front desk without checking in — they can then access staff-only areas, potentially causing chaos without anyone knowing they're not a legitimate guest. This vulnerability in SolarWinds Web Help Desk allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass security controls and gain access to functionality that should be restricted, effectively undermining the application's security model.

What to do

If exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to manipulate backend settings, view sensitive data, and even control functionalities intended for authenticated users only. The consequences could be absolutely devastating for organizations relying on this software to manage their help desk operations. To protect against this vulnerability, immediately patch SolarWinds Web Help Desk to the latest version provided by the vendor. Additionally, conduct a security audit to ensure that proper access controls are enforced and review your configurations for any potential weaknesses. You've got this! Follow these steps, and you'll be boosting your security in no time! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
8.1 · HIGH
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.73562 · 99.5th percentile
Weakness
CWE-693 · Protection Mechanism Failure
Published
2026-01-28T07:30Z
KEV added
2026-02-12 · due 2026-02-15
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 12 FEB 00:00Z
    Added to CISA KEV — remediate by Feb 15
    kev
  • 28 JAN 07:30Z
    SolarWinds Web Help Desk Security Control Bypass Vulnerability
    cvelistv5