CVE-2022-47504 in SolarWinds
Summary
by MITRE • 02/15/2023
SolarWinds Platform was susceptible to the Deserialization of Untrusted Data. This vulnerability allows a remote adversary with Orion admin-level account access to SolarWinds Web Console to execute arbitrary commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2023
The SolarWinds Platform vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-47504 represents a critical deserialization flaw that significantly impacts the security posture of enterprise network monitoring systems. This vulnerability resides within the SolarWinds Orion platform, a widely deployed solution for network infrastructure management and monitoring across organizations of all sizes. The flaw specifically manifests in the platform's handling of untrusted data during the deserialization process, creating a pathway for remote code execution that can be exploited by attackers with administrative access to the Web Console. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate administrative privileges that many organizations consider secure, making the attack vector more accessible than typical remote code execution vulnerabilities that require initial compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-502, which specifically addresses the deserialization of untrusted data as a security weakness. When the SolarWinds Orion platform processes serialized data from untrusted sources, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the incoming data structure before deserializing it into executable code. This flaw allows an attacker who has obtained administrative credentials to craft malicious serialized objects that, when processed by the platform, result in arbitrary command execution on the affected system. The vulnerability exists because the platform does not implement proper input validation mechanisms or secure deserialization practices that would prevent malicious data from being interpreted as executable code. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the Orion service account, potentially leading to full system compromise and lateral movement within the network.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-47504 extends far beyond simple remote code execution, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access and exfiltrate sensitive network data. Organizations using SolarWinds Orion platforms face significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential regulatory violations when this vulnerability remains unpatched. The attack surface is particularly dangerous because administrative access to the Web Console is often considered a trusted access level, making it easier for attackers to obtain the necessary privileges. Once exploited, the vulnerability allows for complete control over network monitoring capabilities, enabling attackers to manipulate monitoring data, disable security controls, and potentially pivot to other systems within the network. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to advanced persistent threat actors who seek long-term access to enterprise environments. The impact is further amplified by the widespread adoption of SolarWinds Orion platforms, meaning that successful exploitation could affect numerous organizations simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-47504 should focus on both immediate patching and operational security improvements to reduce the risk of exploitation. Organizations must prioritize applying the official SolarWinds patches released to address this vulnerability, as these updates implement proper input validation and secure deserialization practices. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the impact of potential exploitation by preventing attackers from easily accessing administrative console interfaces. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual deserialization activities and suspicious command execution patterns within the Orion platform. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 for malicious input and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, highlighting the need for comprehensive detection capabilities that monitor for these specific attack patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access, reducing the likelihood of credential compromise, and establishing robust incident response procedures specifically tailored to address this type of vulnerability. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of insecure deserialization practices within the platform or related systems.