CVE-2024-28999: SolarWinds Platform Race Condition Flaw

CVE-2024-28999 Overview

The SolarWinds Platform was determined to be affected by a Race Condition Vulnerability affecting the web console. This vulnerability exists in the web-based management interface and could allow an attacker to exploit timing windows in concurrent operations to potentially compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.

Critical Impact

This race condition vulnerability in the SolarWinds Platform web console could allow an adjacent network attacker to exploit timing-based flaws, potentially leading to unauthorized access or system compromise without requiring user interaction or privileges.

Affected Products

• SolarWinds Platform (versions prior to 2024.2)
• SolarWinds Orion Platform web console component

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-06-04 - CVE-2024-28999 published to NVD
• 2025-02-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-28999

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-362 (Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization), commonly known as a Race Condition. The flaw exists within the SolarWinds Platform web console where concurrent operations are not properly synchronized, creating exploitable timing windows.

The vulnerability requires adjacent network access, meaning an attacker must be on the same network segment or have a similar level of proximity to the target system. While the attack complexity is high due to the timing-sensitive nature of race conditions, successful exploitation does not require any privileges or user interaction, making it a significant threat in environments where network segmentation is inadequate.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2024-28999 lies in improper synchronization of concurrent execution paths within the SolarWinds Platform web console. When multiple threads or processes access shared resources simultaneously without adequate locking mechanisms or atomic operations, a Time-of-Check Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) condition can emerge. This allows an attacker to manipulate the state of the application between the time a security check is performed and the time the associated action is executed.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability requires adjacent network positioning. An attacker would need to:

1. Gain access to the same network segment as the SolarWinds Platform deployment
2. Identify and target the web console interface
3. Send carefully timed concurrent requests to exploit the race condition window
4. Manipulate the timing to bypass security checks or corrupt application state

Due to the high attack complexity, successful exploitation requires precise timing and potentially multiple attempts. However, once exploited, the impact spans across confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.

The vulnerability can be exploited by sending concurrent requests to the SolarWinds Platform web console, attempting to manipulate shared resources during the brief window between security validation and action execution. For detailed technical information, refer to the SolarWinds Security Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-28999

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual patterns of rapid, repeated requests to the SolarWinds Platform web console from the same source
• Concurrent connection attempts to the web management interface with similar request payloads
• Authentication anomalies or unexpected session state changes
• Unexplained modifications to system configurations or data integrity issues

Detection Strategies

• Implement network-based intrusion detection signatures monitoring for abnormal request patterns to the SolarWinds web console
• Deploy application-level logging to capture concurrent request timing and sequence
• Monitor for authentication bypass indicators or privilege escalation attempts within the platform
• Utilize SentinelOne's behavioral AI to detect exploitation attempts targeting race conditions

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed access logging on the SolarWinds Platform web console
• Configure alerting for high-frequency requests from single sources within short time windows
• Implement network traffic analysis on segments where SolarWinds Platform is deployed
• Review SolarWinds application logs for concurrent operation anomalies or error conditions indicating race condition exploitation

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-28999

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade to SolarWinds Platform version 2024.2 or later immediately
• Implement strict network segmentation to limit adjacent network access to the SolarWinds Platform
• Review access controls and restrict web console access to authorized administrators only
• Monitor for exploitation attempts while applying patches

Patch Information

SolarWinds has addressed this vulnerability in SolarWinds Platform version 2024.2. Organizations should download and apply this update from the official SolarWinds portal. Detailed release information is available in the SolarWinds Platform 2024.2 Release Notes.

For official security guidance, consult the SolarWinds Security Advisory CVE-2024-28999.

Workarounds

• Restrict network access to the SolarWinds Platform web console using firewall rules and ACLs
• Implement VPN or jump host requirements for administrative access to reduce adjacent network exposure
• Enable rate limiting on the web console to reduce the effectiveness of race condition exploitation attempts
• Consider temporarily disabling non-essential web console functionality until patching is complete

# Example: Restrict access to SolarWinds web console using Windows Firewall
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Restrict SolarWinds Console" dir=in action=block protocol=tcp localport=443 remoteip=any
netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Allow SolarWinds Admin Subnet" dir=in action=allow protocol=tcp localport=443 remoteip=10.0.1.0/24