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Full vulnerability report · 2020
CVE-2020-10148High confidence

SolarWinds Orion Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

SolarWinds · Orion

9.8CriticalCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Patch now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2022-05-03 as the remediation due date.

Patch available
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityCriticalOperational priority:Critical, unchanged from published severity.unchanged

Evidence used

  • CISA confirms exploitation in the wild.
  • The selected CVSS metric records a network-reachable, unauthenticated path with no user interaction.
  • EPSS is 91.98% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
  • Restrict the affected network interface to trusted sources where business-safe.
  • Increase monitoring for the attack path and post-exploitation behaviour described in the report.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs SolarWinds Orion and falls inside the recorded affected range.
  2. Verify the installed build against the product-specific fixed version after deployment.
  3. Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
  4. Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Mitigation target: Within 3 daysRemediation target: Within 90 days

This automated reassessment organises public evidence. It does not know asset exposure, business impact or control effectiveness and does not replace CVSS or a human risk decision.

Optional official sources

National CERT insights
?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Choose official national sources for this report. Each advisory shows its original language. Your selection is remembered on this device and included in shared links.

Official European source

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.

1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier

EUVD-2020-2611

CISA KEV mirrored by ENISA

The SolarWinds Orion API is vulnerable to an authentication bypass that could allow a remote attacker to execute API commands. This vulnerability could allow a remote attacker to bypass authentication and execute API commands which may result in a compromise of the SolarWinds instance. SolarWinds Orion Platform versions 2019.4 HF 5, 2020.2 with no hotfix installed, and 2020.2 HF 1 are affected.

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Recorded by ENISA since 3 Nov 2021. Evidence sources: cisa_kev.
ENISA score
9.8 · CVSS 3.1
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionPatch now

CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2022-05-03 as the remediation due date.

Patch available
01

What, why and how

SolarWinds Orion API contains an authentication bypass vulnerability that could allow a remote attacker to execute API commands.

What

SolarWinds Orion API contains an authentication bypass vulnerability that could allow a remote attacker to execute API commands.

Why

The product requires authentication, but the product has an alternate path or channel that does not require authentication.

How

An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may bypass an access boundary or take over an account.

What

SolarWinds Orion API contains an authentication bypass vulnerability that could allow a remote attacker to execute API commands.

Why

The product requires authentication, but the product has an alternate path or channel that does not require authentication.

How

An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may bypass an access boundary or take over an account.

02

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
Confirmed in the wild

CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 2021-11-03.

Public PoC / exploit material
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path
a network path → Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel → bypass an access boundary or take over an account
Attack surface
Network
Privileges required
None: unauthenticated exploitation is possible
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary
Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-288 ↗

CWE-288: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel. The product requires authentication, but the product has an alternate path or channel that does not require authentication.

CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.

AVNetworkAttack vector: The vulnerable component can be reached over a network.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.PRNonePrivileges required: The attacker does not need an account or existing privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.IHighIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
Stolen credentials, tokens and legitimate administration functions may provide continued access without deploying a large custom toolset.
NetworkUnauthenticatedCWE-288CISA KEV
A

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2020-2611Known-exploited evidence recorded

The SolarWinds Orion API is vulnerable to an authentication bypass that could allow a remote attacker to execute API commands. This vulnerability could allow a remote attacker to bypass authentication and execute API commands which may result in a compromise of the SolarWinds instance. SolarWinds Orion Platform versions 2019.4 HF 5, 2020.2 with no hotfix installed, and 2020.2 HF 1 are affected.

Official EUVD record ↗
Canadian Centre for Cyber Security · English · AL20-031Recommendations for SolarWinds Supply-Chain Compromise - update 1

On 13 December 2020 SolarWinds disclosed recent malicious activity impacting the SolarWinds Orion Platform [ 1 ] and affecting high-profile clients including FireEye and the U.S. Government. This activity was enabled by a supply chain compromise of the product carried out by a highly sophisticated threat actor. It is believed that government agencies and a variety of organizations in Canada and abroad may be affected.

Official advisory ↗
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20201230Security Bulletin 30 Dec 2020

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 30 Dec 2020, published on 30 December 2020. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2020-AVI-845Vulnérabilité dans SolarWinds Orion API

Une vulnérabilité a été découverte dans l'API Orion de SolarWinds. Elle permet à un attaquant de provoquer une exécution de code arbitraire à distance.

Official advisory ↗
JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2020-010253SolarWinds Orion API に認証回避の脆弱性

SolarWinds Orion API には、認証回避の脆弱性が存在します。 SolarWinds Orion Platform は、インフラストラクチャの監視および管理のためのプラットフォームです。 SolarWinds Orion Platform 製品に実装されている API 処理機能には URL パラメタの処理に問題があり、細工されたリクエスト URL を受け取ると認証をスキップして処理してしまう可能性があります。

Official advisory ↗
KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-5248솔라윈즈 오리온 플랫폼 보안 업데이트 권고

o 솔라윈즈社 제품에서 취약점이 발견됨에 따라 보안 업데이트 권고 o 해당 제품을 사용중인 국내 이용자들은 해당 취약점을 악용한 악성코드 감염 등의 피해를 입을 수 있으므로, 대응 방안에 따라 보안 조치 권고 * 솔라윈즈 오리온 플랫폼 : 기업 내부에서 운영중인 시스템 모니터링 및 관리위한 플랫폼 ##### □ 주요 내용 o 오리온 플랫폼에서 API 인증이 미흡하여 발생하는 원격코드실행 취약점(CVE-2020-10148) [1]

Official advisory ↗
03

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status
?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Patch available
Affected
Orion Platform: 2019.4 HF 5, 2020.2 HF 1, 2020.2 without hotfix
Fixed
Action
Review the linked authoritative reference and apply the recorded fixed release appropriate to the affected product branch.
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. If business-safe, reduce exposure to the affected interface and allow only trusted sources until authoritative guidance is available.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 29 Dec 2020 · Last source change 21 Oct 2025, 23:35 UTC · CWE-288 · Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.1
CVSS sourceNIST NVD
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2020-2611
Product sourceCISA KEV
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceCNA
NVD statusNVD enriched

Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗
  1. Vendor guidanceAuthoritative vendor guidance changed: added remediation: solarwinds.com/securityadvisory.
    Before
    vendor advisory: solarwinds.com/securityadvisory
    After
    remediation: solarwinds.com/securityadvisory · vendor advisory: solarwinds.com/securityadvisory
    solarwinds.com ↗
  2. Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
    Before
    2019.4 HF 5; 2020.2 without hotfix; 2020.2 HF 1 · Fixed: No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
    After
    Orion Platform: 2019.4 HF 5, 2020.2 without hotfix, 2020.2 HF 1 · Fixed: Users should update to the relevant versions of the SolarWinds Orion Platform:; 2019.4 HF 6 (released December 14, 2020); 2020.2.1 HF 2 (released December 15, 2020); 2019.2 SUPERNOVA Patch (released December 23, 2020); 2018.4 SUPERNOVA Patch (released December 23, 2020); 2018.2 SUPERNOVA Patch (released December 23, 2020)
    CNA ↗
  3. Remediation statusRemediation status changed from Awaiting fix to Patch available.
    Before
    Awaiting fix
    After
    Patch available
    solarwinds.com ↗
Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
CVE published
Added to CISA KEV
Fixed release or patch reference recorded
ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2020-2611↗CISA KEV record↗CVE authority or vendor reference↗Official CVE record (CNA and ADP data)↗NVD record↗
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
Free version - for non-commercial use only.CVE-2020-10148 · cve.blacktree.nl