Analysis Summary

SolarWinds has released an urgent patch to address a critical security vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-28986 in its Web Help Desk software. This flaw is a Java deserialization bug that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems.

With a CVSS score of 9.8, the vulnerability is deemed highly critical. SolarWinds stated that they could not reproduce the exploit without authentication after extensive testing. Nevertheless, SolarWinds Web Help Desk users are strongly advised to update to the latest hotfix version 12.8.3 HF 1 to protect against potential exploitation.

In a related disclosure, Palo Alto Networks has patched a high-severity vulnerability affecting its Cortex XSOAR platform, CVE-2024-5914. This flaw, which has a CVSS score of 7.0, is a command injection vulnerability that could allow unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands within the context of an integration container. The issue specifically affects versions of Cortex XSOAR CommonScripts before 1.12.33. The vulnerability is triggered when an integration uses the ScheduleGenericPolling or GenericPollingScheduledTask scripts from the CommonScripts pack.

Palo Alto Networks has also addressed two additional moderate-severity vulnerabilities. The first, CVE-2024-5915, is a privilege escalation vulnerability in the GlobalProtect app for Windows devices, which could allow a local user to execute programs with elevated privileges (CVSS score: 5.2). The second, CVE-2024-5916, is an information exposure flaw in PAN-OS software that could enable a local system administrator to access sensitive information such as secrets, passwords, and tokens of external systems (CVSS score: 6.0).

Users of affected products are urged to update to the latest versions to mitigate these risks. In addition to upgrading, Palo Alto Networks recommends revoking and regenerating any secrets, passwords, and tokens configured in PAN-OS firewalls to ensure the security of these systems post-upgrade. The swift patching and updating of these vulnerabilities are crucial to maintaining the integrity and security of the affected systems.

Impact

• Privilege Escalation
• Information Disclosure
• Code Execution

Indicators of Compromise

CVE

• CVE-2024-28986

Affected Vendors

Remediation

• Upgrade to the latest version of Web Help Desk, available from the SolarWinds Website.
• Organizations must test their assets for the vulnerability mentioned above and apply the available security patch or mitigation steps as soon as possible.
• Implement multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to login processes.
• Regularly monitor network activity for any unusual behavior, as this may indicate that a cyberattack is underway.
• Organizations must stay vigilant and follow best practices for cybersecurity to protect their systems and data from potential threats. This includes regularly updating software and implementing strong access controls and monitoring tools.
• Develop a comprehensive incident response plan to respond effectively in case of a security breach or data leakage.
• Maintain regular backups of critical data and systems to ensure data recovery in case of a security incident.
• Adhere to security best practices, including the principle of least privilege, and ensure that users and applications have only the necessary permissions.
• Establish a robust patch management process to ensure that security patches are evaluated, tested, and applied promptly.
• Conduct security audits and assessments to evaluate the overall security posture of your systems and networks.
• Implement network segmentation to contain and isolate potential threats to limit their impact on critical systems.