CVE-2021-35218

Remote code execution via unsafe chart deserialization

Published Sep 1, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Deserialization of untrusted data in SolarWinds Patch Manager 2020.2.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute code via the Chart endpoint. The endpoint fails to validate user-supplied serialized data before deserializing it, enabling arbitrary code execution as NETWORK SERVICE. Network access to the Patch Manager Web Console is required; ZDI reports that the normal authentication requirement can be bypassed.

CVSS severity8.9
High
EPSS probability76.41%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Deserialization of untrusted data in SolarWinds Patch Manager 2020.2.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute code via the Chart endpoint. The endpoint fails to validate user-supplied serialized data before deserializing it, enabling arbitrary code execution as NETWORK SERVICE. Network access to the Patch Manager Web Console is required; ZDI reports that the normal authentication requirement can be bypassed.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-35218
Published
Sep 1, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
SolarWinds
Product
Patch Manager
Classifications
CWE-502, CAPEC-586, T1190
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 1, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=2020.5 and previous versions <2020.2.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

SolarWinds · Patch Managerversion=2020.5 and previous versions <2020.2.6

Published CVSS scores

8.9SolarWindsCVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L

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)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-502Deserialization of Untrusted Data
CAPEC-586Object Injection
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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo