Unauthenticated method access via poisoned context cache
Published Jan 28, 2026 · Updated Jan 28, 2026
Authentication bypass in SolarWinds Web Help Desk 12.8.8 HF1 and earlier allows remote attackers to invoke protected application methods. An unauthenticated request assigns the protected LookAndFeelPref page to the wopage parameter, poisoning the WebObjects context cache and exposing its JSON-RPC client. Network access to the Web Help Desk interface is sufficient; the bypass exposes privileged methods and can begin a pre-authentication code-execution chain.
Summary
What happened
Authentication bypass in SolarWinds Web Help Desk 12.8.8 HF1 and earlier allows remote attackers to invoke protected application methods. An unauthenticated request assigns the protected LookAndFeelPref page to the wopage parameter, poisoning the WebObjects context cache and exposing its JSON-RPC client. Network access to the Web Help Desk interface is sufficient; the bypass exposes privileged methods and can begin a pre-authentication code-execution chain.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-40552
- Published
- Jan 28, 2026
- Updated
- Jan 28, 2026
- Vendor
- SolarWinds
- Product
- Web Help Desk
- Classifications
- CWE-1390, CAPEC-115, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 28, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jan 28, 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.
- Affected versionversion=12.8.8 HF1 and below
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- watchTowr Web Help Desk authentication-bypass detection artifactproof of concept · demonstrated
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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