CVE-2025-40553Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated code execution via Ajax object deserialization

Published Jan 28, 2026 · Updated Jan 28, 2026

Deserialization in SolarWinds Web Help Desk 12.8.8 HF1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute host commands without authentication. The Ajax wopage.validateValueForKey method accepts a user-controlled javaClass object, instantiates BasicDataSource, and passes its validationQuery to PostgreSQL. A public artifact reaches the Ajax endpoint through an authentication-bypass chain and uses PostgreSQL COPY FROM PROGRAM to run commands in the Web Help Desk host context.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability60.39%
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 in SolarWinds Web Help Desk 12.8.8 HF1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute host commands without authentication. The Ajax wopage.validateValueForKey method accepts a user-controlled javaClass object, instantiates BasicDataSource, and passes its validationQuery to PostgreSQL. A public artifact reaches the Ajax endpoint through an authentication-bypass chain and uses PostgreSQL COPY FROM PROGRAM to run commands in the Web Help Desk host context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-40553
Published
Jan 28, 2026
Updated
Jan 28, 2026
Vendor
SolarWinds
Product
Web Help Desk
Classifications
CWE-502, CAPEC-586, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 28, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 28, 2026Record 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=12.8.8 HF1 and below

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

SolarWinds · Web Help Deskversion=12.8.8 HF1 and below

Published CVSS scores

9.8SolarWindsCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-502Deserialization of Untrusted Data
CAPEC-586Object Injection
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

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