1. Cleus
  2. Zero-days
  3. CVE-2024-28986
Exploited in the wildServers & business softwareWork IT

CVE-2024-28986 SolarWinds Web Help Desk: unsafe data loading

In plain words: The program unpacks saved data from outside without checking it is safe. Usually lets an attacker run code on the server.

Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Sep 5, 2024

What to do

  1. Install SolarWinds's security update for Web Help Desk. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
  2. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
  3. Patch anything in this catalog first, ahead of normal patch cycles.
  4. Put admin and file-transfer apps behind a VPN or single sign-on instead of the open internet.

Read SolarWinds's advisory ↗

Who is affected

Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.

What's at risk: Mass data theft and ransomware: a single flaw in a file-transfer or email server has exposed thousands of organisations at once.

The details

Official name
SolarWinds Web Help Desk Deserialization of Untrusted Data Vulnerability
Product
SolarWinds Web Help Desk
CISA description
SolarWinds Web Help Desk contains a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability that could allow for remote code execution.
Type of flaw
Unsafe data loading (CWE-502)
Confirmed exploited
Aug 15, 2024
US federal patch deadline
Sep 5, 2024

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Answering about CVE-2024-28986 ·

Questions about CVE-2024-28986

Is CVE-2024-28986 being exploited?

Yes. CISA added CVE-2024-28986 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Aug 15, 2024, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.

How do I fix CVE-2024-28986?

Install SolarWinds's security update for Web Help Desk. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.

Am I affected by CVE-2024-28986?

Only if you use SolarWinds Web Help Desk. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.

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