Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-23836

RCE in Solarwinds Orion Platform 2022.4.1

Published
15 February 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 7.2
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.80 99.6th percentile
Risk Priority 79 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-23836 is a high-severity Deserialization of Untrusted Data (CWE-502) vulnerability in Solarwinds Orion Platform. Its CVSS base score is 7.2 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 0.4% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

SolarWinds Platform version 2022.4.1 contains a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability (CWE-502) in the Orion Web Console component. The flaw is rated 7.2 on CVSS 3.1 with the vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating that successful exploitation requires network-reachable admin credentials but then yields full control over confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

An authenticated remote attacker who already possesses Orion admin-level access to the SolarWinds Web Console can supply a malicious serialized object that the platform deserializes without validation, resulting in arbitrary command execution on the underlying host. Because the attack is authenticated and originates from a privileged account, it does not rely on user interaction or additional network pivots once console access is obtained.

SolarWinds has addressed the issue in the Platform 2023.1 release, as documented in the corresponding release notes and the vendor’s security advisory for CVE-2023-23836. Administrators are advised to upgrade affected 2022.4.1 installations and to review the hardening guidance published with the advisory. The CVE maintains a stable EPSS score of 0.6717, reflecting sustained exploitation interest after disclosure.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

SolarWinds Platform version 2022.4.1 was found to be susceptible to the Deserialization of Untrusted Data. This vulnerability allows a remote adversary with Orion admin-level account access to the SolarWinds Web Console to execute arbitrary commands.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
T1210 Exploitation of Remote Services Lateral Movement
Adversaries may exploit remote services to gain unauthorized access to internal systems once inside of a network.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2022-36958Same product: Solarwinds Orion Platform
CVE-2021-35218Same product: Solarwinds Orion Platform
CVE-2021-35215Same product: Solarwinds Orion Platform
CVE-2022-36961Same product: Solarwinds Orion Platform
CVE-2023-23840Same product: Solarwinds Orion Platform
CVE-2023-23845Same product: Solarwinds Orion Platform
CVE-2020-10148Same product: Solarwinds Orion Platform
CVE-2023-35184Same product class: network monitoring / SIEM
CVE-2024-28986Same product class: network monitoring / SIEM
CVE-2024-0692Same product class: network monitoring / SIEM

Affected Assets

solarwinds
orion platform
2022.4.1

Mitigating Controls

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-502

Penetration testing supplies malicious serialized objects, detecting unsafe deserialization and supporting corrective actions.

addresses: CWE-502

Evaluation of untrusted data handling (deserialization testing) reveals unsafe processing, which the required remediation process addresses.

addresses: CWE-502

Untrusted serialized data can be deserialized and observed inside the chamber, blocking gadget-chain exploitation outside the sandbox.

addresses: CWE-502

Validates or rejects untrusted serialized data before deserialization occurs.

addresses: CWE-502

Identifies and blocks malicious code introduced through deserialization of untrusted data at system boundaries.

addresses: CWE-502

Integrity verification of serialized information can detect tampering before deserialization occurs.

addresses: CWE-502

Provenance of associated data allows detection of untrusted sources before deserialization or processing occurs.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-02 none match
prevents

PR.PS-02 addresses only post-deployment updates/patching and cannot prevent introduction of unsafe deserialization code, yet it can remediate some instances when the flaw exists in outdated libraries or components.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

finds

Security testing includes validation of deserialization routines and the use of untrusted data, reducing the likelihood that unsafe object reconstruction will be deployed.

prevents

Requiring vetted libraries, regular updates and SAST before release reduces the likelihood that deserialization logic will accept and act on attacker-controlled serialized objects.

finds

Regular scanning of third-party libraries and timely patching reduce the likelihood that unsafe deserialization vulnerabilities remain active.

none

Mandatory malware scanning of data received over networks or storage media intercepts malicious serialized payloads before they are deserialized by the target application.

References