Detect SolarWinds Web Help Desk Security Control Bypass (CVE-2025-40536) in IBM QRadar
Detects exploitation of CVE-2025-40536, a security control bypass vulnerability (CWE-693) in SolarWinds Web Help Desk. This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild (CISA KEV) and allows attackers to bypass authentication or authorization controls within the Web Help Desk application. Successful exploitation may enable unauthorized access to ticketing data, credential stores, or administrative functions.
MITRE ATT&CK
QRadar Detection Query
SELECT
sourceip,
destinationip,
URL,
'HTTP_Method' AS method,
'HTTP_Status_Code' AS status_code,
starttime,
QIDNAME(qid) AS event_name,
logsourcename(logsourceid) AS log_source
FROM events
WHERE
LAST 24 HOURS
AND (
(URL ILIKE '%/helpdesk/%' OR URL ILIKE '%/WebHelpDesk/%' OR URL ILIKE '%/whd/%')
AND (
URL ILIKE '%bypass%' OR
URL ILIKE '%../% ' OR
URL ILIKE '%admin%' OR
URL ILIKE '%config%' OR
URL ILIKE '%setup%' OR
'HTTP_Method' IN ('PUT', 'DELETE', 'PATCH')
)
AND 'HTTP_Status_Code' IN ('200', '201', '204')
)
ORDER BY starttime DESC
LIMIT 1000QRadar AQL query to identify suspicious HTTP requests targeting SolarWinds Web Help Desk, focusing on bypass-indicative URI patterns, unexpected HTTP methods, and successful responses to sensitive endpoints.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Legitimate REST API calls from authorized integration platforms using non-standard methods
- Internal IT operations accessing WHD admin panels during maintenance windows
- Automated backup or reporting tools that traverse WHD administrative paths
- Security scanners from authorized vulnerability management programs
Other platforms for CVE-2025-40536
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 3 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1Unauthenticated Access to WHD Admin Endpoint
Expected signal: HTTP request to WHD ticket creation endpoint without session cookie; response code 200 or redirect to a normally-protected resource instead of 401/403
- Test 2HTTP Method Bypass Probe Against WHD API
Expected signal: HTTP PUT request to WHD REST API ticket endpoint without valid session; response code 200 or 204 indicating the operation succeeded without authentication
- Test 3Path Traversal Bypass Attempt on WHD Configuration Endpoint
Expected signal: HTTP GET request containing path traversal sequence /../ targeting WHD admin path; 200 response code indicating bypass of path-level access control
References (4)
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