CVE-2026-28321
Received Received - Intake

Broken Access Control in SolarWinds Serv-U Leading to Privilege Escalation

Publication date: 2026-07-21

Last updated on: 2026-07-21

Assigner: SolarWinds

Description
SolarWinds Serv-U is affected by a broken access control vulnerability that could allow arbitrary file read and write, which can then be used to escalate privileges and execute code as root. A domain administrator access is required, and the impact is lower in Windows installations.

CVSS Scores

EPSS Scores

Probability:
Percentile:

Meta Information

Published
2026-07-21
Last Modified
2026-07-21
Generated
2026-07-21
AI Q&A
2026-07-21
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-28321
EUVD
EUVD-2026-46299

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 3 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
solarwinds serv-u *
solarwinds serv-u to 2026.3 (exc)
solarwinds serv-u 2026.3

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
CWE Icon
KEV
KEV Icon
CWE ID Description
CWE-284 The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.

Attack-Flow Graph

AI Quick Actions

Instant insights powered by AI
Executive Summary

SolarWinds Serv-U has a broken access control flaw allowing arbitrary file read and write operations. This can lead to privilege escalation and root-level code execution. Domain admin access is required for exploitation, and the impact is reduced on Windows systems.

Detection Guidance

To detect CVE-2026-28321, check if your SolarWinds Serv-U version is 15.5.4 HF1 or below. Compare installed version against 2026.3 or later. On Linux, run commands like 'servuadmin --version' or check package managers. On Windows, inspect installed programs via Control Panel or PowerShell.

Impact Analysis

An attacker with domain admin access could read or modify sensitive files, escalate privileges to root, and execute arbitrary code. This could compromise system integrity, data confidentiality, and availability.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized data access or modification, violating GDPR (data protection) and HIPAA (health data security) requirements. Non-compliance risks include fines, legal penalties, and reputational damage.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest security patches from SolarWinds immediately. Ensure domain administrator access is restricted and monitored. Review file permissions on Serv-U installations to prevent unauthorized access.

Chat Assistant

Ask questions about this CVE
Hi! I’m here to help you understand CVE-2026-28321. Ask me anything about the vulnerability, its impact, or mitigation strategies.
0/70

EPSS Chart