CVE-2022-38115: CWE-650 in SolarWinds SolarWinds SEM
Insecure method vulnerability in which allowed HTTP methods are disclosed. E.g., OPTIONS, DELETE, TRACE, and PUT
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2022-38115 is a vulnerability identified in SolarWinds Security Event Manager (SEM) versions 2022.2 and earlier. The issue is categorized under CWE-650, which pertains to the disclosure of allowed HTTP methods on a web server or application interface. Specifically, this vulnerability arises because the affected SolarWinds SEM instances disclose HTTP methods such as OPTIONS, DELETE, TRACE, and PUT. These HTTP methods, when improperly exposed or enabled, can provide attackers with valuable information about the server's capabilities and potentially allow them to perform unauthorized actions. For example, the DELETE method could be used to remove resources, PUT could be used to upload or modify resources, TRACE can be abused for cross-site tracing attacks, and OPTIONS reveals the set of supported methods, which can aid in reconnaissance. The vulnerability is considered an insecure method vulnerability because it leaks information about the allowed HTTP methods, which should ideally be restricted or hidden to reduce the attack surface. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the presence of such methods can facilitate further attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction to be observed, as HTTP methods are typically discoverable via standard HTTP requests. The lack of a patch link suggests that remediation might require configuration changes or updates from SolarWinds. Given the nature of SolarWinds SEM as a security event management tool, it is often deployed in enterprise environments to monitor and manage security events, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking to disrupt security monitoring or gain footholds in networks.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-38115 can be significant due to the critical role SolarWinds SEM plays in security monitoring and incident response. Exposure of allowed HTTP methods can enable attackers to gather intelligence about the system and potentially exploit other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. If methods like DELETE or PUT are enabled and not properly secured, attackers could modify or delete critical security event data, undermining the integrity and availability of security logs and monitoring capabilities. This could delay detection of intrusions or lead to loss of forensic data, severely impacting incident response efforts. Additionally, the TRACE method can be abused in cross-site tracing attacks, potentially exposing sensitive information such as authentication tokens or cookies. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of security event data are all at risk if this vulnerability is exploited. Given that SolarWinds SEM is used by many large enterprises and government agencies, exploitation could lead to broader security breaches or disruption of security operations. The medium severity rating reflects that while the vulnerability itself does not directly allow remote code execution or privilege escalation, it can be a stepping stone for more severe attacks. European organizations with high compliance requirements (e.g., GDPR) could face regulatory and reputational damage if security monitoring is compromised.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate CVE-2022-38115, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Review and restrict HTTP methods allowed on the SolarWinds SEM web interface. Disable unnecessary methods such as DELETE, PUT, and TRACE unless explicitly required and secured. 2) Implement web application firewalls (WAFs) or reverse proxies to filter and block disallowed HTTP methods before they reach the SEM server. 3) Conduct thorough configuration audits of SolarWinds SEM instances to ensure that security best practices are followed, including least privilege and minimal exposure of management interfaces. 4) Monitor network traffic for unusual HTTP method usage patterns that could indicate reconnaissance or exploitation attempts. 5) Apply any vendor-provided updates or patches as soon as they become available, and engage with SolarWinds support for guidance on secure configuration. 6) Segment the SolarWinds SEM infrastructure within the network to limit exposure and restrict access to trusted administrators only. 7) Incorporate this vulnerability into regular penetration testing and vulnerability scanning to detect and remediate insecure HTTP method exposures proactively. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on HTTP method restrictions, network-level controls, and continuous monitoring tailored to the SolarWinds SEM environment.
Affected Countries
Germany, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Ireland
CVE-2022-38115: CWE-650 in SolarWinds SolarWinds SEM
Description
Insecure method vulnerability in which allowed HTTP methods are disclosed. E.g., OPTIONS, DELETE, TRACE, and PUT
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
CVE-2022-38115 is a vulnerability identified in SolarWinds Security Event Manager (SEM) versions 2022.2 and earlier. The issue is categorized under CWE-650, which pertains to the disclosure of allowed HTTP methods on a web server or application interface. Specifically, this vulnerability arises because the affected SolarWinds SEM instances disclose HTTP methods such as OPTIONS, DELETE, TRACE, and PUT. These HTTP methods, when improperly exposed or enabled, can provide attackers with valuable information about the server's capabilities and potentially allow them to perform unauthorized actions. For example, the DELETE method could be used to remove resources, PUT could be used to upload or modify resources, TRACE can be abused for cross-site tracing attacks, and OPTIONS reveals the set of supported methods, which can aid in reconnaissance. The vulnerability is considered an insecure method vulnerability because it leaks information about the allowed HTTP methods, which should ideally be restricted or hidden to reduce the attack surface. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the presence of such methods can facilitate further attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction to be observed, as HTTP methods are typically discoverable via standard HTTP requests. The lack of a patch link suggests that remediation might require configuration changes or updates from SolarWinds. Given the nature of SolarWinds SEM as a security event management tool, it is often deployed in enterprise environments to monitor and manage security events, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking to disrupt security monitoring or gain footholds in networks.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-38115 can be significant due to the critical role SolarWinds SEM plays in security monitoring and incident response. Exposure of allowed HTTP methods can enable attackers to gather intelligence about the system and potentially exploit other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. If methods like DELETE or PUT are enabled and not properly secured, attackers could modify or delete critical security event data, undermining the integrity and availability of security logs and monitoring capabilities. This could delay detection of intrusions or lead to loss of forensic data, severely impacting incident response efforts. Additionally, the TRACE method can be abused in cross-site tracing attacks, potentially exposing sensitive information such as authentication tokens or cookies. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of security event data are all at risk if this vulnerability is exploited. Given that SolarWinds SEM is used by many large enterprises and government agencies, exploitation could lead to broader security breaches or disruption of security operations. The medium severity rating reflects that while the vulnerability itself does not directly allow remote code execution or privilege escalation, it can be a stepping stone for more severe attacks. European organizations with high compliance requirements (e.g., GDPR) could face regulatory and reputational damage if security monitoring is compromised.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate CVE-2022-38115, European organizations should take the following specific actions: 1) Review and restrict HTTP methods allowed on the SolarWinds SEM web interface. Disable unnecessary methods such as DELETE, PUT, and TRACE unless explicitly required and secured. 2) Implement web application firewalls (WAFs) or reverse proxies to filter and block disallowed HTTP methods before they reach the SEM server. 3) Conduct thorough configuration audits of SolarWinds SEM instances to ensure that security best practices are followed, including least privilege and minimal exposure of management interfaces. 4) Monitor network traffic for unusual HTTP method usage patterns that could indicate reconnaissance or exploitation attempts. 5) Apply any vendor-provided updates or patches as soon as they become available, and engage with SolarWinds support for guidance on secure configuration. 6) Segment the SolarWinds SEM infrastructure within the network to limit exposure and restrict access to trusted administrators only. 7) Incorporate this vulnerability into regular penetration testing and vulnerability scanning to detect and remediate insecure HTTP method exposures proactively. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on HTTP method restrictions, network-level controls, and continuous monitoring tailored to the SolarWinds SEM environment.
For access to advanced analysis and higher rate limits, contact root@offseq.com
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.1
- Assigner Short Name
- SolarWinds
- Date Reserved
- 2022-08-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Cisa Enriched
- true
Threat ID: 682d983fc4522896dcbf0adf
Added to database: 5/21/2025, 9:09:19 AM
Last enriched: 6/24/2025, 8:12:04 AM
Last updated: 8/12/2025, 8:54:40 AM
Views: 18
Related Threats
CVE-2025-52621: CWE-346 Origin Validation Error in HCL Software BigFix SaaS Remediate
MediumCVE-2025-52620: CWE-20 Improper Input Validation in HCL Software BigFix SaaS Remediate
MediumCVE-2025-52619: CWE-209 Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information in HCL Software BigFix SaaS Remediate
MediumCVE-2025-52618: CWE-89 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') in HCL Software BigFix SaaS Remediate
MediumCVE-2025-43201: An app may be able to unexpectedly leak a user's credentials in Apple Apple Music Classical for Android
HighActions
Updates to AI analysis are available only with a Pro account. Contact root@offseq.com for access.
External Links
Need enhanced features?
Contact root@offseq.com for Pro access with improved analysis and higher rate limits.