IRONSMITHINTEL
CRITICALCVSS9.1
|
Actively Exploited
|CISA KEV|CVE-2024-28987|Auth: none — unauthenticated|Reboot: required|Manual only

SolarWinds Web Help Desk Hardcoded Credential Vulnerability

SolarWinds Web Help Desk contains a hardcoded credential vulnerability that could allow a remote, unauthenticated user to access internal functionality and modify data.

Published Aug 21, 2024 · Updated May 16, 2026
Why patchRisk explained in plain English
Worst-case scenarioIf unpatched

A remote attacker, without authentication, can achieve full data confidentiality loss, arbitrary modification of data. Federal agencies are required to remediate by 2024-11-05 under CISA BOD 22-01.

How the attack worksNo clicks needed

This is a Use of Hard-coded Credentials (CWE-798) vulnerability in SolarWinds Web Help Desk. The SolarWinds Web Help Desk (WHD) software is affected by a hardcoded credential vulnerability, allowing remote unauthenticated user to access internal functionality and modify data. Exploitation requires remote network access, low attack complexity, no authentication required, and no user interaction required.

📧

Phishing link

🖼

Malicious file

🔓

Server compromised

Am I affected?Quick check

Probably yes if any of these apply:

IT Security
Running web help desk: v < 12.8.3, 12.8.3
Real-world incidentsWhat we've seen

Active exploitation documented in the wild. Threat-research write-up: https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/22/hardcoded_credentials_bug_solarwinds_whd/

How to patch

Manual remediation steps

Apply the Vendor Patch

This vulnerability is in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog — apply the vendor's security update as soon as possible.

CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

References

    1
    Vendor advisory: https://www.solarwinds.com/trust-center/security-advisories/cve-2024-28987
    1
    NVD entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-28987
    1
    CISA KEV: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2024-28987
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