Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-35239 is a stored cross-site scripting issue in SolarWinds Orion Platform maps. A user with Orion map management rights could save malicious content in a map text box hyperlink that may affect another user who later views it. This matters because Orion is often used for sensitive network monitoring.
Executive priority
Treat this as high priority for Orion environments because a trusted monitoring console could become a path to compromise user sessions or sensitive information. Urgency is lower than known-exploited critical issues, but remediation should be scheduled promptly.
Technical view
The flaw is CWE-79 in Orion Platform 2020.2.6 and earlier. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.5, with low complexity, low privileges required, user interaction required, and changed scope. The source bundle names SolarWinds advisory, mitigation guidance, and 2020.2.6 Hotfix 1 references.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in SolarWinds Orion Platform deployments running 2020.2.6 or earlier, especially where non-admin users can manage Orion maps and higher-privilege users view those maps.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not cite active exploitation, and CISA KEV status is false. Exploitation requires an authenticated user with Orion map manage rights and a separate user interaction path through map viewing.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE record and SolarWinds references in the bundle. Do not assume internet-facing exploitation. Focus validation on version, map management permissions, stored map content, and vendor hotfix or mitigation status.
Mitigation direction
- Review SolarWinds CVE-2021-35239 advisory and mitigation guidance.
- Apply the relevant SolarWinds hotfix or vendor-recommended update path.
- Restrict Orion map management rights to trusted users only.
- Review secure Orion configuration guidance from SolarWinds.
- Audit existing map text box hyperlinks for unexpected or unauthorized content.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Orion Platform versions and identify systems at 2020.2.6 or earlier.
- Confirm whether SolarWinds 2020.2.6 Hotfix 1 or later guidance is applied.
- List accounts with Orion map manage rights and validate business need.
- Review map change history or audit logs for suspicious edits.
- Check whether stored map hyperlink content was modified by unexpected users.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-79: User-session and phishing behavior lookup
Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-35239 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L
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.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L1.75.3Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.5HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://documentation.solarwinds.com/en/success_center/orionplatform/content/core-secure-configuration.htmCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://support.solarwinds.com/SuccessCenter/s/article/Orion-Platform-2020-2-6-Hotfix-1?language=en_USCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.solarwinds.com/trust-center/security-advisories/cve-2021-35239CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://support.solarwinds.com/SuccessCenter/s/article/Mitigate-the-Stored-XSS-in-Maps-text-box-hyperlink-vulnerability-CVE-2021-35239?language=en_USCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.