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SolarWinds Patches Four Critical Serv-U Flaws, Exposing Vulnerabilities to Remote Code Execution



SolarWinds has patched four critical Serv-U flaws, exposing vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to gain root access on unpatched servers. The patches address broken access control issues, type confusion vulnerabilities, and an Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) vulnerability, all with CVSS scores of 9.1.

  • SolarWinds has addressed four critical vulnerabilities in its Serv-U file transfer server software to mitigate remote code execution risks.
  • The vulnerabilities include a broken access control issue, type confusion vulnerabilities, and an Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) flaw.
  • These flaws can potentially grant attackers root access to unpatched servers, highlighting the importance of regular software updates and patching.
  • The patches aim to prevent remote code execution and unauthorized access to sensitive systems.



  • SolarWinds, a leading provider of network management and monitoring solutions, has recently addressed four critical vulnerabilities in its Serv-U file transfer server software. These patches are aimed at mitigating the risks associated with remote code execution, which can potentially grant attackers root access to unpatched servers.

    The Serv-U vulnerability is a widely used software solution that enables organizations to securely transfer files over networks using protocols like FTP, FTPS, SFTP, and HTTP/S. It has been commonly employed by businesses to manage and exchange large files safely with internal teams and external partners. However, this widespread adoption of the software may have inadvertently created an environment conducive to exploitation.

    According to recent reports from reputable cybersecurity sources, SolarWinds has acknowledged four critical Serv-U vulnerabilities that can be exploited remotely by attackers seeking to gain root access on vulnerable systems. The identified flaws include a broken access control issue tracked as CVE-2025-40538 (CVSS score of 9.1), type confusion vulnerabilities designated as CVE-2025-40540 and CVE-2025-40539 (both with CVSS scores of 9.1), and an Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) vulnerability marked as CVE-2025-40541 (also with a CVSS score of 9.1).

    The first identified vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-40538, involves a broken access control issue that can be exploited by attackers possessing high privileges to create system admin users and execute arbitrary code as root via domain admin or group admin privileges. This flaw is particularly concerning because it highlights the lack of robust authentication mechanisms within the Serv-U software.

    The second type confusion vulnerability, designated as CVE-2025-40540, enables an attacker to execute arbitrary native code as root, thus granting them full control over the affected server. The third type confusion vulnerability, marked as CVE-2025-40539, also allows attackers to run arbitrary native code with root privileges, compromising the entire system.

    The fourth identified vulnerability is the Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) flaw tracked as CVE-2025-40541. Exploiting this vulnerability enables an attacker to execute native code as root, posing a significant risk of complete server compromise on unpatched systems.

    According to reports from reputable cybersecurity sources, SolarWinds released updates to fix these four critical Serv-U vulnerabilities. The patches aim to mitigate the risks associated with remote code execution and prevent attackers from exploiting these vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems.

    The identification of these vulnerabilities highlights the importance of regular software updates and patching in ensuring the security of network management and monitoring solutions. It also underscores the need for organizations to adopt robust cybersecurity practices, including vulnerability scanning and penetration testing, to identify potential weaknesses before they can be exploited by attackers.

    Related Information:
  • https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/SolarWinds-Patches-Four-Critical-Serv-U-Flaws-Exposing-Vulnerabilities-to-Remote-Code-Execution-ehn.shtml

  • https://securityaffairs.com/188454/hacking/solarwinds-patches-four-critical-serv-u-flaws-enabling-root-access.html

  • https://orca.security/resources/blog/solarwinds-serv-u-rce-vulnerabilities/

  • https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-40538

  • https://www.cvedetails.com/cve/CVE-2025-40538/

  • https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-40539

  • https://www.cvedetails.com/cve/CVE-2025-40539/

  • https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-40540

  • https://www.cvedetails.com/cve/CVE-2025-40540/

  • https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-40541

  • https://www.cvedetails.com/cve/CVE-2025-40541/


  • Published: Tue Feb 24 14:49:02 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M













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