CVE-2025-40538

SolarWinds Serv-U Broken Access Control Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Published Feb 24, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 9.1 Critical EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
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.

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.

Remediation

Vendor Solution

SolarWinds recommends that customers upgrade to SolarWinds Serv-U 15.5.4 as soon as it becomes available.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Solarwinds
Solarwinds serv-u
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:solarwinds:serv-u:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Solarwinds
Solarwinds serv-u
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description 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. 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.
Title SolarWinds Serv-U Broken Access Control Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Weaknesses CWE-269
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 9.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
SolarWinds
Published
Updated
Feb 26, 2026, 2:44 PM
Reserved
Apr 16, 2025, 8:00 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Feb 24, 2026, 8:16 AM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 9:21 AM