Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw lets a privileged Orion user abuse an alert-management feature to write files outside intended boundaries, potentially leading to remote code execution. It is not a broad internet-drive-by issue, but it matters because Orion often sits in sensitive monitoring environments.
Executive priority
Treat as a timely remediation item for any Orion deployment, especially in regulated or security-sensitive networks. The vulnerability needs privileges, but successful abuse could affect a high-value monitoring platform.
Technical view
CVE-2021-35244 affects SolarWinds Orion Platform 2020.2.6 HF2 and earlier. The “Log alert to a file” action can allow any Orion user with alert management rights to write to arbitrary files, creating an unrestricted file upload path that may result in remote code execution.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to SolarWinds Orion Platform deployments at 2020.2.6 HF2 or earlier where users have Orion alert management rights. Risk increases if privileged Orion access is broadly assigned or poorly monitored.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited active exploitation. Exploitation requires Orion alert management rights, high complexity, and adjacent network access per the provided CVSS vector.
Researcher notes
The key control point is Orion alert management authorization. Evidence in the bundle supports arbitrary file write through the alert logging action and possible RCE, but does not establish public exploitation or provide detailed patch mechanics.
Mitigation direction
- Review SolarWinds Hotfix 3 and current vendor guidance for remediation.
- Upgrade affected Orion Platform versions according to SolarWinds support guidance.
- Restrict Orion alert management rights to trusted administrators only.
- Apply SolarWinds secure configuration guidance for Orion deployments.
- Audit existing alert actions and remove unnecessary file logging actions.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Orion Platform versions and installed hotfix levels.
- Identify users and groups with Orion alert management rights.
- Review alert actions using “Log alert to a file” for unexpected paths.
- Check Orion server logs for suspicious file-write activity.
- Confirm remediation status against SolarWinds advisory and support guidance.
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.
Execution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-35244 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/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:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L15.3Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.8MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:L
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.solarwinds.com/trust-center/security-advisories/cve-2021-35242CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- 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-3?language=en_USCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-22-375/CVE 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.