Skip to main content

Web Help Desk CVE-2025-40537

HIGH
Use of Hard-coded Credentials (CWE-798)
2026-01-28 psirt@solarwinds.com
7.5
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A07:2025 - Authentication Failures
ASVS 5.0
V6 - Authentication Credential externalization
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Persistence, Credential Access

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS 7.5 (HIGH). Attack vector: Network. Complexity: High. Privileges required: Low. User interaction: None. Exploitation requires authentication.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker (requires authentication) could exploit this vulnerability to access to administrative functions.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
No patch listed yet 0.0% exploitation probability (EPSS)

Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.

Alert me

AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 12, 2026

SolarWinds Web Help Desk was found to be susceptible to a hardcoded credentials vulnerability that, under certain situations, could allow access to administrative functions. [CVSS 7.5 HIGH]

RemediationAI

Monitor vendor advisories for a patch. Restrict network access to the affected service where possible.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

Classified as CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials). Affects Web Help Desk. SolarWinds Web Help Desk was found to be susceptible to a hardcoded credentials vulnerability that, under certain situations, could allow access to administrative functions.

Know when Web Help Desk gets its next vulnerability

  • Watch products and get an email when something new is published
  • Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

No credit card · 7-day full trial

Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 7.5 HIGH
AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionCVE.org

SolarWinds Web Help Desk was found to be susceptible to a hardcoded credentials vulnerability that, under certain situations, could allow access to administrative functions.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

SolarWinds Web Help Desk contains hardcoded credentials that could allow unauthorized administrative access to affected systems. Organizations using this product face immediate risk of data breach, system compromise, and operational disruption until a patch is released.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Implement strict network access controls (IP whitelisting, WAF rules blocking unauthorized admin endpoints); restrict Web Help Desk access to internal networks only; disable remote access features if not essential; enable multi-factor authentication where supported; increase monitoring and alerting for administrative login attempts; consider isolating affected instances until patch availability; maintain detailed audit logs of all access attempts.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.0%
Top 99% exploitable
Data Quality
3 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.0%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
High

Priority Score

38
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +38
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.

Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org

cpe:2.3:a:solarwinds:web_help_desk:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE-2025-40551 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Jan 28

SolarWinds Web Help Desk contains an unauthenticated Java deserialization vulnerability (CVE-2025-40551, CVSS 9.8) that

CVE-2025-40536 HIGH POC
8.1 Jan 28

SolarWinds Web Help Desk contains a security control bypass vulnerability (CVE-2025-40536) that allows unauthenticated a

CVE-2025-26399 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Sep 23

SolarWinds Web Help Desk contains an unauthenticated deserialization RCE via AjaxProxy, a patch bypass of both CVE-2024-

CVE-2025-40552 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Jan 28

SolarWinds Web Help Desk has an authentication bypass vulnerability (EPSS 9.9%) that allows unauthenticated attackers to

CVE-2025-40554 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Jan 28

SolarWinds Web Help Desk has a second authentication bypass (EPSS 7.8%) providing yet another path to unauthenticated ad

CVE-2024-28986 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Aug 13

SolarWinds Web Help Desk was found to be susceptible to a Java Deserialization Remote Code Execution vulnerability that,

CVE-2024-28987 CRITICAL POC
9.1 Aug 21

The SolarWinds Web Help Desk (WHD) software is affected by a hardcoded credential vulnerability, allowing remote unauthe

CVE-2025-40553 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Jan 28

SolarWinds Web Help Desk has a second deserialization vulnerability (EPSS 11.9%) providing another unauthenticated RCE p

CVE-2024-28988 CRITICAL
9.8 Sep 01

SolarWinds Web Help Desk was found to be susceptible to a Java Deserialization Remote Code Execution vulnerability that,

CVE-2026-28323 CRITICAL
9.8 Jul 30

Authentication bypass in SolarWinds Web Help Desk (WHD) allows remote unauthenticated attackers to circumvent SAML 2.0 s

CVE-2026-28299 HIGH
7.5 Jun 02

Denial-of-service in SolarWinds Web Help Desk (2026.1 and all prior versions) lets remote unauthenticated attackers exha

CVE-2021-35243 HIGH
7.5 Dec 23

The HTTP PUT and DELETE methods were enabled in the Web Help Desk web server (12.7.7 and earlier), allowing users to exe

This site uses cookies essential for authentication and security. No tracking or analytics cookies are used. Privacy Policy