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CVE Record

CVE-2018-19999: The local management interface in SolarWinds Serv-U FTP Server 15.1.6.25 has incorrect access controls that...

The local management interface in SolarWinds Serv-U FTP Server 15.1.6.25 has incorrect access controls that permit local users to bypass authentication in the application and execute code in the context of the Windows SYSTEM account, leading to privilege escalation. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must have local access the the host running Serv-U, and a Serv-U administrator have an active management console session.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a local privilege escalation issue in SolarWinds Serv-U FTP Server 15.1.6.25. A person who already has local access to the Windows host could bypass the Serv-U management interface authentication and run code as Windows SYSTEM, but only when a Serv-U administrator has an active management console session.

Executive priority

Treat as high priority where Serv-U 15.1.6.25 runs on multi-user or administrator-accessible Windows servers. The business risk is full host compromise after local access, but urgency is lower than a remotely exploitable or KEV-listed issue.

Technical view

The issue is incorrect access control in the local Serv-U management interface. The CVE description says local users can bypass application authentication and execute code in the Windows SYSTEM context. Exploitation requires local host access plus an active Serv-U administrator management console session. The provided bundle does not include CVSS, CWE, or fixed-version details.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Windows hosts running SolarWinds Serv-U FTP Server 15.1.6.25 where untrusted or lower-privileged users can access the host locally. Risk increases on shared servers, jump hosts, or systems where administrators leave Serv-U management console sessions active.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not indicate active exploitation, and CISA KEV status is false. This is not described as a remote internet-facing attack. It is a post-access escalation path requiring local access and a specific administrator-session condition.

Researcher notes

Evidence is constrained to the CVE description and linked advisories. The source bundle names the vulnerable version and prerequisites but does not provide CVSS, CWE, patch version, detection indicators, or proof of exploitation. Do not assume broader Serv-U versions are affected without vendor confirmation.

Mitigation direction

  • Check SolarWinds guidance for fixed or supported Serv-U versions.
  • Restrict local login access to Serv-U hosts.
  • Avoid leaving Serv-U management console sessions active when unattended.
  • Review shared-server use where lower-privileged users can log in locally.
  • Prioritize upgrade or decommissioning of Serv-U 15.1.6.25 if present.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Windows servers for SolarWinds Serv-U FTP Server 15.1.6.25.
  • Confirm whether local non-admin users can access affected hosts.
  • Review administrator practices for active Serv-U management console sessions.
  • Check endpoint telemetry for unexpected SYSTEM-context processes tied to Serv-U.
  • Document vendor guidance or fixed-version status before remediation closure.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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description · low confidence lookup

Privilege behavior lookup

The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2018-19999 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
3Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.