CVE-2025-40549Network attack vector

Admin-level code execution via path restriction bypass

Published Nov 18, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026

Path restriction bypass in SolarWinds Serv-U 15.5.2 and earlier allows remote authenticated users with admin privileges to execute code. SolarWinds has not disclosed the affected path-validation locus or the operation that accepts a path outside its configured directory. Administrative access is required; successful abuse crosses directory restrictions, with Windows exposure reduced by path and home-directory handling.

CVSS severity9.1
Critical
EPSS probability1.07%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path restriction bypass in SolarWinds Serv-U 15.5.2 and earlier allows remote authenticated users with admin privileges to execute code. SolarWinds has not disclosed the affected path-validation locus or the operation that accepts a path outside its configured directory. Administrative access is required; successful abuse crosses directory restrictions, with Windows exposure reduced by path and home-directory handling.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-40549
Published
Nov 18, 2025
Updated
Feb 26, 2026
Vendor
SolarWinds
Product
Serv-U
Classifications
CWE-22, CAPEC-253, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 18, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 26, 2026Record 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=SolarWinds Serv-U 15.5.2 and prior versions

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

SolarWinds · Serv-Uversion=SolarWinds Serv-U 15.5.2 and prior versions

Published CVSS scores

9.1SolarWindsCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
CAPEC-253Remote Code Inclusion
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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