CVE-2020-27871Network attack vector

SYSTEM code execution via unchecked path write

Published Feb 10, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Path traversal in SolarWinds Orion Platform 2020.2.1 allows remote attackers to create arbitrary files through VulnerabilitySettings.aspx. The page uses a user-supplied path in file operations without validating that the destination remains within an authorized directory. Reaching the operation requires authentication, although the existing authentication mechanism can be bypassed, and a resulting file write enables code execution as SYSTEM.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability90.83%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in SolarWinds Orion Platform 2020.2.1 allows remote attackers to create arbitrary files through VulnerabilitySettings.aspx. The page uses a user-supplied path in file operations without validating that the destination remains within an authorized directory. Reaching the operation requires authentication, although the existing authentication mechanism can be bypassed, and a resulting file write enables code execution as SYSTEM.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-27871
Published
Feb 10, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
SolarWinds
Product
SolarWinds Platform
Classifications
CWE-22, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 10, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2020.2.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

SolarWinds · SolarWinds Platformversion=2020.2.1

Published CVSS scores

9.0NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.2Zero Day InitiativeCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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