WHD 12.8.1 release notes
Release date: January 17, 2024
Updated: January 18, 2024
These release notes were last updated on August 16, 2024.
Here's what's new in Web Help Desk 12.8.1.
Learn more
- See WHD 12.8.1 system requirements to learn about prerequisites for running and installing WHD 12.8.1.
- See the WHD 12.8.1 Administrator Guide to learn how to work with WHD.
New features and improvements in WHD
A new Responses dropdown is available on the Tech Notes box. The dropdown provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface that allows an agent/technician to quickly add standardized responses, reducing the time spent on repetitive typing and ensuring consistency in communication by using predefined and approved responses. For instructions, see Create and use canned responses for ticket notes.
Added Asset Count to Ticket Assets table on the Asset Info tab. This new feature makes it easier to know how many assets were successfully attached, especially when you are attaching multiple assets. Refer to See count of attached assets on tickets.
WHD now has a dual Change Approval Board (CAB) process. Users can choose between the existing CAB process and the enhanced CAB process when creating a new CAB request. This dual-process approach provides flexibility and accommodates different organizational needs for change management. See Select a Change Approval Board (CAB) process.
Updated Apache Tomcat. This release includes Apache Tomcat 9.0.82, which provides additional enhancements to further harden the application. This version replaces Tomcat 9.0.69, which is no longer supported. Tomcat is an open source software product that creates both a web and application server for your enterprise.
Fixes
| Case number | Description |
|---|---|
|
01041645 |
Resolved sync failure due to Error: c.s.d.l.JMSResultMessageListener - Cannot handle the received JMS result message: com.solarwinds.discovery_jms.listeners.JMSMessageHandlingException: Cannot handle a JMS message with the discovery result. |
|
01424712, 01495696 |
Resolved issue with inability to create new Help Desk account. ERROR whd.helpdesk.com.macsdesign.whd.ui - Problem inserting new client er.extensions.validation. ERXValidationException: The value entered for Authentication Key exceeds the length of 80. |
|
01019444, 01485074 |
Resolved issues with inoperability of date sort on Ticket History tab of Asset records. |
|
01442109, 01492308 |
Resolved issue with error: Unauthorized Request for download attachment file for clients cc'd while creating a ticket. |
|
01497916 |
Resolved issue with User logging out with unexpected error while configuring incoming mail account due to a long password on the incoming mail account. |
|
01440381, 01474246, 01497788 |
Resolved issue where application crashes if there is an existing date and user blanks out the date under Status & Schedule / Scheduled Date. |
|
None |
Resolved issue of purchase order export not working as expected because of page size. |
|
None |
Resolved issue with error 127: Unable to initiate backup while taking backup from embedded database on Linux machine. |
|
01041645 |
Resolved issue with WMI Asset discovery scheduler - scheduled sync not working. |
|
01520465, 01532473 |
Resolved issue where users could not add attachments in Note section on already created ticket in Client UI. |
|
01509744, 01511475, 01508793, 01524171, 01531702 |
Resolved issue where WHD crashed while user was creating/updating client/tech information. |
CVEs
| CVE-ID | Vulnerability Title | Description | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2023-5869 | Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability | A flaw was found in PostgreSQL that allows authenticated database users to execute arbitrary code through missing overflow checks during SQL array value modification. This issue exists due to an integer overflow during array modification where a remote user can trigger the overflow by providing specially crafted data. This enables the execution of arbitrary code on the target system, allowing users to write arbitrary bytes to memory and extensively read the server's memory. | 8.8 High |
| HTTP/2 Rapid Reset Vulnerability | The HTTP/2 protocol allows a denial of service (server resource consumption) because request cancellation can reset many streams quickly, as exploited in the wild in August through October 2023. | 7.5 High | |
|
* Please review the SolarWinds Mitigation Document for CVE-2023-44487 here: https://solarwindscore.my.site.com/SuccessCenter/s/article/Mitigation-for-HTTP-2-Rapid-Reset-Vulnerability-for-Tomcat-CVE-2023-44487-in-Web-Help-Desk?language=en_US |
|||
Before you upgrade!
If you are upgrading from a previous version, determine the upgrade path for your WHD deployment.
Upgrade your embedded PostgreSQL database
If you are running version 12.7.8 with the embedded PostgreSQL 13.3 database, follow the instructions in the WHD Installation and Upgrade Guide to upgrade your deployment to version 12.8.1.
If you are running version 12.7.6 or earlier with the embedded PostgreSQL 9.x.x database, upgrade to 12.7.7 with PostgreSQL 13.9 first. See How to upgrade Web Help Desk to version 12.7.7 using PostgreSQL as the database for details. When you are finished, follow the instructions in the WHD Installation and Upgrade Guide to upgrade your deployment to version 12.8.1.
Install the MySQL JDBC driver
Beginning with WHD 12.7.1, Oracle Java was replaced with the OpenJDK. This update modifies the directory structure where the MySQL Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) driver is installed. To prevent errors after the upgrade, install the driver on your host server in the new location to prevent errors in the application after the upgrade.
See Install the MySQL JDBC Driver in the WHD Administrator Guide for installation instructions.
Upgrade Your Apache Tomcat software
The software installer includes Apache Tomcat 9.0.82, which provides enhanced security and is required for this release.
When you upgrade your WHD software, the upgrade procedure replaces the <WebHelpDesk>\conf\tomcat_web_template.xml file with an updated file including the Tomcat 9.0.82 settings.
Before you upgrade, back up your current tomcat_web_template.xml file to an external directory. When the upgrade is completed, add your personal settings to the updated file from your backup file.
Installation or upgrade
For new installations, you can download the installer from the SolarWinds website or from the Customer Portal. For more information, see the WHD Installation and Upgrade Guide.
After you complete the installation, see the WHD Getting Started Guide. This guide picks up right after the installation process and walks you through the initial steps you need to take to start using the application.
WHD supports Windows Server 2019 and 2022 for production environments and Windows 11 for trial evaluations. These operating system require additional setup to install. See the WHD Installation and Upgrade Guide for instructions.
To install WHD and enable FIPS, see Enable FIPS in a new deployment in the WHD Administrator Guide.
WHD no longer includes the additional configuration files required to enable Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) mode in the application. To install WHD and enable FIPS, see Enable FIPS in a new deployment in the WHD Administrator Guide.
If you are installing WHD 12.7.12 with FIPS mode disabled, make sure version 12.7.9 is running on the host server before you install. When the installation is completed, enable FIPS mode.
For upgrades, use the WHD Installation and Upgrade Guide to plan and execute your upgrade. When you are ready, download the upgrade package from the SolarWinds Customer Portal.
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