Quick answer
Direct answer
Risk scores
| CVSS metric | What it means |
|---|---|
| Attack vector (AV:N) | Network: reachable remotely |
| Attack complexity (AC:H) | High complexity |
| Privileges required (PR:N) | No privileges required |
| User interaction (UI:N) | No user interaction |
| Scope (S:U) | Scope unchanged |
| Confidentiality (C:H) | High confidentiality impact |
| Integrity (I:H) | High integrity impact |
| Availability (A:H) | High availability impact |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CISA required action
About SolarWinds Web Help Desk
CVE-2025-40536 affects SolarWinds Web Help Desk, a product from SolarWinds. Before acting, confirm where SolarWinds Web Help Desk runs in your estate, who owns it and whether it is reachable from the internet, because exposure decides real risk more than the score alone.
What the flaw is
In plain terms: SolarWinds Web Help Desk was found to be susceptible to a security control bypass vulnerability that if exploited, could allow an unauthenticated attacker to gain access to certain restricted functionality.
Based on its CVSS vector, the flaw can be reached over the network, needs no login, and needs no user interaction. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, so treat it as an active threat and patch immediately.
Affected versions and timeline
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | SolarWinds Web Help Desk |
| Affected versions | Web Help Desk before 2026.1 |
| Published | Jan 28, 2026 |
| Last modified | Jun 17, 2026 |
| Added to CISA KEV | Feb 12, 2026 |
| Assigning CNA | psirt@solarwinds.com |
How to detect it
- Inventory every instance of SolarWinds Web Help Desk and record the running version against the affected range above.
- Check external attack surface scans for internet facing instances of the component.
- Review logs on affected systems for unusual requests, errors or new processes around the vulnerable function.
- Confirm with an authenticated vulnerability scan once your scanner has a check for this CVE.
How to fix it
- Apply the fixed version of SolarWinds Web Help Desk named in the vendor advisory.
- If patching must wait, restrict network access to the affected service and put it behind authentication or a web application firewall rule.
- Rescan after the change to prove the exposure is gone, then close the ticket.
CTEM action plan
| CTEM stage | What to do for this CVE |
|---|---|
| Scope | Add every business service that depends on SolarWinds Web Help Desk to the current CTEM cycle. |
| Discover | Find all instances, including shadow and cloud deployments, and record versions and exposure. |
| Prioritize | Known exploited, so top priority. |
| Validate | Confirm the flaw is reachable and exploitable in your environment and that compensating controls work. |
| Mobilize | Assign the fix to the asset owner with a due date matched to the priority, then verify closure. |
CWE References
Technical References
Frequently asked questions
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