# CVE-2021-35216: Deserialization of Untrusted Data in Resource Controls Remote Code Execution

> An authenticated attacker can achieve remote code execution via insecure deserialization in the SolarWinds Patch Manager Orion Platform Integration module.

- **Severity:** High 8.9 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 1 Sep 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-8475-rfgr-qm88

## What is CVE-2021-35216?

CVE-2021-35216 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in SolarWinds Patch Manager, published on 1 Sep 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Insecure Deserialization of untrusted data remote code execution vulnerability was discovered in Patch Manager Orion Platform Integration module. An Authenticated Attacker with network access via HTTP can compromise this vulnerability can result in Remote Code Execution.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-35216?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Solarwinds Patch Manager.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-35216?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-35216 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-35216 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-35216 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in SolarWinds Patch Manager

- [CVE-2021-35217](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-35217/): Insecure Deserialization of untrusted data causing Remote code execution vulnerability. (high 8.9)
- [CVE-2021-27240](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27240/): Deserialization in Patch Manager (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-35216 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-35216 is a high-severity unsafe deserialization vulnerability in SolarWinds Patch Manager, published on 1 Sep 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-35216 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: SolarWinds Patch Manager. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-35216/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-35216/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-35216
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-35216
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-35216

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-35216/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.