CVE-2026-28321

Analyzed Analyzed - Analysis Complete

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

Publication date: 2026-07-21

Last updated on: 2026-07-24

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

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Meta Information

Published

2026-07-21

Last Modified

2026-07-24

Generated

2026-08-10

AI Q&A

2026-07-21

EPSS Evaluated

2026-08-09

NVD

CVE-2026-28321

EUVD

EUVD-2026-46299

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendor	Product	Version / Range
solarwinds	serv-u	to 2026.3 (exc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE

KEV

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

Attack-Flow Graph

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.

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