# CVE-2024-28986: SolarWinds Web Help Desk Deserialization of Untrusted Data

> An attacker can execute arbitrary commands on the host via Java deserialization in SolarWinds Web Help Desk, requiring authentication despite initial reports.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 15 Aug 2024 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Aug 2024
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-g536-h677-2w32

## What is CVE-2024-28986?

CVE-2024-28986 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in SolarWinds Web Help Desk, published on 13 Aug 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

SolarWinds Web Help Desk was found to be susceptible to a Java Deserialization Remote Code Execution vulnerability that, if exploited, would allow an attacker to run commands on the host machine. 

While it was reported as an unauthenticated vulnerability, SolarWinds has been unable to reproduce it without authentication after thorough testing.  

However, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend all Web Help Desk customers apply the patch, which is now available.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-28986?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Solarwinds Web Help Desk.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-28986?

No fix has been published for CVE-2024-28986 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 5 Sep 2024.

## Is CVE-2024-28986 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2024-28986 in the wild since at least 15 Aug 2024.

Public exploit code:

- SolarWinds Web Help Desk < 12.8.3 - Insecure Deserialization (nuclei): http/cves/2024/CVE-2024-28986.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in SolarWinds Web Help Desk

- [CVE-2025-40551](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-40551/): SolarWinds Web Help Desk Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-26399](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-26399/): SolarWinds Web Help Desk Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-28987](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-28987/): SolarWinds Web Help Desk Hardcoded Credential (critical 9.1, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-40536](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-40536/): SolarWinds Web Help Desk Security Control Bypass (high 8.1, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-28323](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-28323/): SolarWinds Web Help Desk SAML Authentication Bypass Vulnerability (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-28986 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-28986 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in SolarWinds Web Help Desk, published on 13 Aug 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2024-28986 in the wild since at least 15 Aug 2024.

Affected product: SolarWinds Web Help Desk. 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-2024-28986/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-28986/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-28986
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-28986
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-28986

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-28986/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.