{"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": "2026-02-24T07:40:12.958Z"}, "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"}}}}

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{"cveTags": [], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "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."}], "id": "CVE-2025-40538", "lastModified": "2026-02-24T08:16:27.627", "metrics": {"cvssMetricV31": [{"cvssData": {"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"}, "exploitabilityScore": 2.3, "impactScore": 6.0, "source": "psirt@solarwinds.com", "type": "Primary"}]}, "published": "2026-02-24T08:16:27.627", "references": [{"source": "psirt@solarwinds.com", "url": "https://documentation.solarwinds.com/en/success_center/servu/content/release_notes/servu_15-5-4_release_notes.htm"}, {"source": "psirt@solarwinds.com", "url": "https://www.solarwinds.com/trust-center/security-advisories/CVE-2025-40538"}], "sourceIdentifier": "psirt@solarwinds.com", "vulnStatus": "Received", "weaknesses": [{"description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-269"}], "source": "psirt@solarwinds.com", "type": "Primary"}]}

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