CVE-2023-23839 Overview
CVE-2023-23839 is a Sensitive Data Exposure vulnerability affecting the SolarWinds Platform. This vulnerability allows authenticated users to access the Orion.WebCommunityStrings SWIS (SolarWinds Information Service) schema object, potentially exposing sensitive configuration information. The exposure of community strings could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to monitored network devices or facilitate further attacks within the network infrastructure.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can retrieve sensitive SNMP community strings and configuration data from the SolarWinds Platform, potentially compromising network device management and monitoring infrastructure.
Affected Products
- SolarWinds Platform (versions prior to 2023.2)
- SolarWinds Orion Platform components utilizing SWIS schema
- Network monitoring configurations leveraging SNMP community strings
Discovery Timeline
- 2023-04-25 - CVE-2023-23839 published to NVD
- 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2023-23839
Vulnerability Analysis
This information disclosure vulnerability exists within the SolarWinds Information Service (SWIS) schema architecture. The Orion.WebCommunityStrings object, which stores SNMP community string configurations, lacks proper access controls for authenticated users. While the vulnerability requires authentication (low privileges), once authenticated, users can query and retrieve sensitive community string data that should be restricted to administrative users only.
The vulnerability enables network-based exploitation without user interaction. The impact is confined to confidentiality, with no direct effect on system integrity or availability. However, the exposed community strings could serve as a stepping stone for broader network compromise.
Root Cause
The root cause stems from insufficient authorization controls within the SWIS schema permissions model. The Orion.WebCommunityStrings schema object does not properly enforce role-based access restrictions, allowing any authenticated user—regardless of their privilege level—to query sensitive SNMP community string data. This represents a classic Broken Access Control vulnerability (CWE-200) where sensitive information is accessible beyond intended user boundaries.
Attack Vector
The attack leverages the network-accessible SolarWinds Web Console and SWIS API. An attacker with valid low-privileged credentials can authenticate to the SolarWinds Platform and issue SWIS queries targeting the Orion.WebCommunityStrings schema object. The attack has low complexity and requires no special conditions or user interaction beyond initial authentication.
An attacker would authenticate to the SolarWinds Platform using legitimate low-privileged credentials. Through the SWIS API or web interface, they would then query the Orion.WebCommunityStrings schema object. The platform would return SNMP community strings that could be used to access or manipulate monitored network devices. For detailed exploitation mechanics, refer to the SolarWinds Security Advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2023-23839
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual SWIS API queries targeting Orion.WebCommunityStrings schema from non-administrative accounts
- Increased authentication activity from low-privileged accounts followed by schema enumeration
- Access logs showing queries to community string objects from unexpected user accounts
- SNMP authentication attempts against network devices using previously secure community strings
Detection Strategies
- Monitor SolarWinds Platform audit logs for SWIS queries accessing sensitive schema objects
- Implement alerting for Orion.WebCommunityStrings object access by non-administrative users
- Review authentication patterns for anomalous low-privileged user activity
- Deploy SIEM rules to correlate SolarWinds schema access with subsequent network device access attempts
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed SWIS query logging within the SolarWinds Platform
- Configure alerts for sensitive schema object enumeration attempts
- Implement user behavior analytics to detect privilege boundary violations
- Monitor network device logs for SNMP authentication using potentially compromised community strings
How to Mitigate CVE-2023-23839
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade to SolarWinds Platform version 2023.2 or later immediately
- Audit all user accounts and remove unnecessary access to the SolarWinds Platform
- Rotate SNMP community strings across all monitored network devices as a precaution
- Review access logs for evidence of exploitation prior to patching
Patch Information
SolarWinds has addressed this vulnerability in SolarWinds Platform version 2023.2. Organizations should upgrade to this version or later to remediate the vulnerability. The patch implements proper access controls on the Orion.WebCommunityStrings SWIS schema object, restricting access to appropriately privileged users. Detailed release information is available in the SolarWinds Platform 2023.2 Release Notes.
Workarounds
- Implement network segmentation to restrict access to the SolarWinds Platform management interface
- Apply strict firewall rules limiting which IP addresses can reach the SolarWinds web console
- Conduct a user account audit and apply principle of least privilege
- Consider implementing additional authentication mechanisms (MFA) for SolarWinds Platform access
# Configuration example
# Restrict SolarWinds web console access via Windows Firewall
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Restrict SolarWinds Web Access" dir=in action=allow protocol=tcp localport=443 remoteip=10.0.0.0/24
# Review SWIS schema access permissions
# Consult SolarWinds documentation for RBAC configuration
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
