Critical remote code execution vulnerability affecting Palo Alto PAN-OS
A critical vulnerability affecting Palo Alto PAN-OS would allow an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code with root privileges on certain affected firewalls or cause a denial of service.
Description
Technical context and vulnerability details
PAN-OS is the operating system used by Palo Alto Networks' next-generation firewalls, including the PA-Series and VM-Series Appliances. This product is affected by a vulnerability labeled CVE-2026-0310, resulting from a buffer overflow when processing XML data. Exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an unauthenticated attacker with network access to the management web interface or data plane interface to send specially crafted XML data. On PA-Series firewalls, exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution with root privileges. On VM-Series equipment, it can cause a denial of service. It is classified critical with a severity score of 9.8 according to CVSS v3.1.
Potential Risks & Impact
Potential consequences upon exploitation
- Remote Arbitrary Code Execution;
- Executing code with root privileges;
- Denial of service;
- Compromise of system integrity and confidentiality;
Affected systems
Products, components and targeted versions
- PAN-OS 11.2 versions earlier than 11.2.4-h21, 11.2.7-h20, 11.2.10-h14 or 11.2.13-h2, depending on the branch;
- PAN-OS 11.1 versions earlier than 11.1.4-h36, 11.1.6-h38, 11.1.7-h10, 11.1.10-h33, 11.1.13-h12 or 11.1.16-h2, depending on the branch;
- PAN-OS 10.2 versions earlier than 10.2.7-h37, 10.2.10-h40, 10.2.13-h24, 10.2.16-h10 or 10.2.18-h10, depending on the branch;
Recommended Remediations & Actions
Immediate actions and recommended mitigations
- Update PAN-OS to versions 12.2.3, 12.1.10, 11.2.13-h2, 11.1.16-h2 or 10.2.18-h10 depending on the branch used;
Sources & External Links
Vendor security advisories and documentation
Advisory Specifications
CSIRT Emergency Response
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