CyberSIXT Search
Original
Image: Security Affairs

Security AffairsPierluigi Paganini

SolarWinds fixes four Serv U file server bugs that allow root

Part of the CVE-2025-40538 story · 3 articles · 3 outlets · since 24 Feb

SolarWinds has issued updates addressing four critical Serv-U vulnerabilities that could allow remote code execution and potentially grant attackers full root access on unpatched servers.

The flaws include CVE-2025-40538, a broken access control issue that could let an attacker create a system admin user and execute arbitrary code as root via domain or group admin privileges, with a CVSS score of 9.1; CVE-2025-40540, a type confusion vulnerability enabling arbitrary native code execution as root; CVE-2025-40539, another type confusion flaw enabling root-level code execution; and CVE-2025-40541, an Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) flaw that can allow root execution of native code.

Each of these four CVEs carries a CVSS score of 9.1. In November 2025, SolarWinds addressed three other Serv-U vulnerabilities (CVE-2025-40549, CVE-2025-40548, CVE-2025-40547) previously; back in July 2024, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency added CVE-2024-28995 to its KEV catalog. According to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Serv-U is a file transfer server used for secure file exchanges over FTP, FTPS, SFTP and HTTP/S.

Story timeline CVE-2025-40538

Full timeline
Show as table
CVE-2025-40538 coverage
Published (UTC)OutletHeadline
Tue 24 Feb · 21:01 UTCSecurity AffairsSolarWinds fixes four Serv U file server bugs that allow root (this article)
Wed 25 Feb · 08:56 UTCThe Hacker NewsSolarWinds fixes Serv U file transfer RCE flaws needing admin
Wed 25 Feb · 15:36 UTCSecurityWeekSolarWinds patches four ServU file transfer RCEs, update to 15.5.4

Sources

On this device

Following

Intel

VendorsThreat actorsResearch reports

Settings

CyberSIXT summarises security news every 30 minutes.

↑↓ move↵ open⌘C copy CVE IDEsc close

Keyboard shortcuts

Everything works with a mouse or touch. Shortcuts are a faster path.

Search ⌘K
Search /
Next item J
Previous item K
Go to Today GT
Go to News GN
Go to CVEs GC
Go to Briefing GB
Reduce motion on this device