CVE-2022-36964 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-502, which pertains to the deserialization of untrusted data within the SolarWinds Platform. This vulnerability affects versions 2022.3 and prior of the SolarWinds Platform, a widely used IT management and monitoring software suite. The core issue arises from the platform's handling of serialized data inputs in the SolarWinds Web Console. Specifically, an attacker who has valid access credentials to the Web Console can exploit this flaw by submitting crafted serialized objects that the platform deserializes without proper validation or sanitization. This unsafe deserialization process enables the attacker to execute arbitrary commands remotely on the underlying system hosting the SolarWinds Platform. The vulnerability does not require the attacker to have elevated privileges beyond valid user access, but it does require authentication to the Web Console. There are no publicly known exploits in the wild at the time of this report, and no official patches have been linked, indicating that remediation may require vendor updates or configuration changes. The medium severity rating reflects the balance between the need for valid credentials and the potential for significant impact through command execution. The vulnerability could be leveraged for lateral movement, privilege escalation, or persistent access within an affected network if exploited successfully.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-36964 can be significant, especially for those relying on SolarWinds Platform for critical IT infrastructure management. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized command execution on management servers, potentially compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of monitored systems. This could disrupt IT operations, lead to data breaches, or facilitate further attacks such as ransomware deployment or espionage. Given the platform's role in managing network devices, servers, and applications, attackers could manipulate monitoring data or disable alerts, delaying incident detection and response. The requirement for valid user credentials somewhat limits the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, as credential theft or misuse is common in targeted attacks. European organizations in sectors such as finance, energy, telecommunications, and government—where SolarWinds is often deployed—are particularly at risk due to the strategic importance of their IT infrastructure and the potential cascading effects of a compromise.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Immediately audit and restrict access to the SolarWinds Web Console, enforcing the principle of least privilege and ensuring that only necessary personnel have access. 2) Implement strong multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users accessing the Web Console to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3) Monitor logs and network traffic for unusual deserialization activity or command execution patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 4) Isolate the SolarWinds management servers within segmented network zones with strict firewall rules to limit lateral movement if compromised. 5) Engage with SolarWinds support or trusted cybersecurity vendors to obtain or develop patches or workarounds addressing unsafe deserialization. 6) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests focusing on deserialization vulnerabilities and access controls within the SolarWinds environment. 7) Educate administrators and users on phishing and credential theft risks to reduce the likelihood of initial access by attackers. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control hardening, monitoring for exploitation indicators, and network segmentation tailored to the SolarWinds deployment context.