{"dataType":"CVE_RECORD","dataVersion":"5.2","cveMetadata":{"cveId":"CVE-2025-40538","assignerOrgId":"49f11609-934d-4621-84e6-e02e032104d6","state":"PUBLISHED","assignerShortName":"SolarWinds","dateReserved":"2025-04-16T08:00:57.647Z","datePublished":"2026-02-24T07:40:12.958Z","dateUpdated":"2026-02-26T14:44:09.848Z"},"containers":{"cna":{"affected":[{"defaultStatus":"affected","platforms":["Windows","Linux"],"product":"Serv-U","vendor":"SolarWinds","versions":[{"status":"affected","version":"SolarWinds Serv-U 15.5.3 and prior versions"}]}],"datePublic":"2026-02-24T07:23:00.000Z","descriptions":[{"lang":"en","supportingMedia":[{"base64":false,"type":"text/html","value":"A broken access control vulnerability exists in Serv-U which when exploited, gives a malicious actor the ability to create a system admin user and execute arbitrary code as a privileged account via domain admin or group admin privileges.<br><br>This issue requires administrative privileges to abuse. On Windows deployments, the risk is scored as a medium because services frequently run under less-privileged service accounts by default.<br><br>"}],"value":"A broken access control vulnerability exists in Serv-U which when exploited, gives a malicious actor the ability to create a system admin user and execute arbitrary code as a privileged account via domain admin or group admin privileges.\n\nThis issue requires administrative privileges to abuse. On Windows deployments, the risk is scored as a medium because services frequently run under less-privileged service accounts by default."}],"impacts":[{"capecId":"CAPEC-233","descriptions":[{"lang":"en","value":"CAPEC-233 Privilege Escalation"}]}],"metrics":[{"cvssV3_1":{"attackComplexity":"LOW","attackVector":"NETWORK","availabilityImpact":"HIGH","baseScore":9.1,"baseSeverity":"CRITICAL","confidentialityImpact":"HIGH","integrityImpact":"HIGH","privilegesRequired":"HIGH","scope":"CHANGED","userInteraction":"NONE","vectorString":"CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H","version":"3.1"},"format":"CVSS","scenarios":[{"lang":"en","value":"GENERAL"}]}],"problemTypes":[{"descriptions":[{"cweId":"CWE-269","description":"CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management","lang":"en","type":"CWE"}]}],"providerMetadata":{"orgId":"49f11609-934d-4621-84e6-e02e032104d6","shortName":"SolarWinds","dateUpdated":"2026-02-24T07:40:12.958Z"},"references":[{"url":"https://www.solarwinds.com/trust-center/security-advisories/CVE-2025-40538"},{"url":"https://documentation.solarwinds.com/en/success_center/servu/content/release_notes/servu_15-5-4_release_notes.htm"}],"solutions":[{"lang":"en","supportingMedia":[{"base64":false,"type":"text/html","value":"SolarWinds recommends that customers upgrade to SolarWinds Serv-U 15.5.4 as soon as it becomes available.\n\n<br>"}],"value":"SolarWinds recommends that customers upgrade to SolarWinds Serv-U 15.5.4 as soon as it becomes available."}],"source":{"discovery":"UNKNOWN"},"title":"SolarWinds Serv-U Broken Access Control Remote Code Execution Vulnerability","x_generator":{"engine":"Vulnogram 0.1.0-dev"}},"adp":[{"metrics":[{"other":{"type":"ssvc","content":{"id":"CVE-2025-40538","role":"CISA Coordinator","options":[{"Exploitation":"none"},{"Automatable":"no"},{"Technical Impact":"total"}],"version":"2.0.3","timestamp":"2026-02-25T04:55:30.568444Z"}}}],"title":"CISA ADP Vulnrichment","providerMetadata":{"orgId":"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0","shortName":"CISA-ADP","dateUpdated":"2026-02-26T14:44:09.848Z"}}]}}