EUVD-2026-46299
GHSA-qmpv-cmj3-27m6
Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Domain administrator access is required so PR:H; network-reachable service with low complexity, and file write to root code execution crosses a privilege boundary giving S:C with full CIA impact.
Primary rating from Vendor (SolarWinds).
CVSS VectorVendor: SolarWinds
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
SolarWinds Serv-U is affected by a broken access control vulnerability that could allow arbitrary file read and write, which can then be used to escalate privileges and execute code as root. A domain administrator access is required, and the impact is lower in Windows installations.
AnalysisAI
Privilege escalation to root/code execution in SolarWinds Serv-U (managed/secure file transfer server) arises from a broken access control flaw that grants arbitrary file read and write on the host. An attacker already holding domain administrator access can abuse this to overwrite privileged files and run code as root, with reduced impact on Windows installations. Reported by SolarWinds with no public exploit identified at time of analysis, though the 9.1 CVSS reflects the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact once the precondition is met.
Technical ContextAI
Serv-U is SolarWinds' file transfer server supporting FTP, FTPS, SFTP/SCP, and HTTP(S) for enterprise MFT use, deployed on both Linux and Windows hosts. The root cause is classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control): an operation that should be restricted is reachable by a privileged-but-unauthorized principal, allowing the service to read and write files outside its intended boundary. Because the Serv-U service process interacts with the host filesystem, arbitrary write can be leveraged to modify files executed with elevated privileges, culminating in root-level code execution on Linux; on Windows the privilege model constrains the outcome, so the vendor notes lower impact there. The affected product is identified by CPE cpe:2.3:a:solarwinds:serv-u:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*.
RemediationAI
Patch available per vendor advisory: upgrade to SolarWinds Serv-U 2026-3, referenced in the release notes at https://documentation.solarwinds.com/en/success_center/servu/content/release_notes/servu_2026-3_release_notes.htm, and review the advisory at https://www.solarwinds.com/trust-center/security-advisories/CVE-2026-28321 for the exact fixed build. Because exploitation requires domain administrator access, the strongest compensating control is tightening privileged access: enforce least privilege and tiered administration so Serv-U hosts are not reachable by broad domain admin accounts, monitor and alert on unexpected file writes by the Serv-U service to system paths, and run the Serv-U service under a constrained, non-root service account where the platform allows - noting this may require re-testing file transfer functionality and permissions. On Linux, where impact is highest, prioritize the upgrade; on Windows the reduced impact still warrants patching but may be scheduled with lower urgency.
Remote denial-of-service in SolarWinds Serv-U allows unauthenticated attackers to crash the Serv-U service by sending sp
Microsoft discovered a remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in the SolarWinds Serv-U product utilizing a Remote Mem
SolarWinds Serv-U was susceptible to a directory transversal vulnerability that would allow access to read sensitive fil
In SolarWinds Serv-U before 15.2.2 Hotfix 1, there is a directory containing user profile files (that include users' pas
FTP Voyager 16.2.0 contains a denial of service vulnerability that allows local attackers to crash the application by in
A denial of service vulnerability in SolarWinds Serv-U before 15.1.6 HFv1 allows an authenticated user to crash the appl
Share/IncomingWizard.htm in SolarWinds Serv-U before 15.2.3 mishandles the user-supplied SenderEmail parameter, aka "Sha
Privilege escalation in SolarWinds Serv-U allows an authenticated domain administrator account to abuse an insecure dire
Privilege-scoped remote code execution in SolarWinds Serv-U managed file transfer server stems from an insecure direct o
Privilege-to-root remote code execution in SolarWinds Serv-U managed file transfer server stems from an insecure direct
Remote code execution in SolarWinds Serv-U managed file transfer/FTP server allows an attacker to run arbitrary code rem
Privilege escalation to remote code execution as root in SolarWinds Serv-U stems from an insecure direct object referenc
Same weakness CWE-284 – Improper Access Control
View allSame technique Authentication Bypass
View allShare
External POC / Exploit Code
Leaving vuln.today