Vulnerabilities in SolarWinds N-Central Could Allow for Remote Code Execution

Summary

Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in SolarWinds N-Central. Two of these vulnerabilities, when used in conjunction with each other, could allow for remote code execution. SolarWinds N-Central is a remote monitoring and management automation platform for MSPs and IT professionals. Successful exploitation of the most severe of these vulnerabilities could allow for remote code execution. Depending on the privileges associated with the user, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users, whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system, could be less impacted than those who operate with administrative user rights.

Threat Intelligence

There are currently no reports of these vulnerabilities being exploited in the wild.

Systems Affected

• SolarWinds N-Central Platform version 12.3 HF4

Risk

Government:

• Large and medium government entities: High
• Small government entities: High

Businesses:

• Large and medium business entities: High
• Small business entities: High

Home Users: Low

Technical Details

Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in SolarWinds N-Central, two of which could allow for remote code execution when used in conjunction. Details of these vulnerabilities are as follows:

• An OS command-injection vulnerability due to traversal issue (CVE-2020-25617) can be used in conjunction with CVE-2020-25622 for a one-click root RCE attack chain.
• A local privilege escalation vulnerability (CVE-2020-25618).
• An unauthorized access vulnerability due to built-in support and admin accounts with default credentials (CVE-2020-25620).
• An unauthorized access vulnerability due to an authentication mechanism in the local Postgres database (CVE-2020-25621).
• A CSRF vulnerability in N-Central Admin Console (CVE-2020-25622) can be used in conjunction with CVE-2020-25617 for a one-click root RCE attack chain.

Recommendations

We recommend the following actions be taken:

• Apply appropriate updates provided by SolarWinds to vulnerable systems, immediately after appropriate testing.
• Run all software as a non-privilege user (one without administrative privileges) to diminish the effects of a successful attack.
• Remind users not to visit untrusted websites or follow links provided by unknown or untrusted sources.
• Inform and educate users regarding the threats posed by hypertext links contained in emails or attachments especially from untrusted sources.
• Apply the Principle of Least Privilege to all systems and services.

References

SolarWinds

Insinuator

CVE

• https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2020-25617
• https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2020-25618
• https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2020-25620
• https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2020-25621
• https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2020-25622

Reporting

We encourage recipients who discover signs of malicious cyber activity to contact us via the cyber incident report form here.