CVE-2021-35234Network attack vector

Privilege escalation via exposed SQL functions

Published Dec 20, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

SQL injection in SolarWinds Orion Platform 2020.2.6 HF2 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to escalate privileges via crafted requests. The SolarWinds.Orion.Core.Actions.dll module builds SQL queries from user-supplied strings, permitting read-only database access that can retrieve password hashes and salts. Low-privilege authenticated access to the Orion web application is required, and successful exploitation can elevate the account to application-administrator privileges.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability2.80%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

SQL injection in SolarWinds Orion Platform 2020.2.6 HF2 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to escalate privileges via crafted requests. The SolarWinds.Orion.Core.Actions.dll module builds SQL queries from user-supplied strings, permitting read-only database access that can retrieve password hashes and salts. Low-privilege authenticated access to the Orion web application is required, and successful exploitation can elevate the account to application-administrator privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-35234
Published
Dec 20, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
SolarWinds
Product
SolarWinds Orion Platform
Classifications
CWE-89, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 20, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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=2020.2.6 HF 2 and previous versions <2020.2.6 HF 3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

SolarWinds · SolarWinds Orion Platformversion=2020.2.6 HF 2 and previous versions <2020.2.6 HF 3

Published CVSS scores

6.8NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
8.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-89Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL 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

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Your stack

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