Security Digest · Vulnerability record · Known exploited
CVE-2024-0012: Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS Management Interface Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). An authentication bypass in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software enables an unauthenticated attacker with network access to the management web interface to gain PAN-OS administrator privileges to perform administrative actions, tamper with the configuration, or exploit other…
CISA KEV · added 2024-11-18 CVSS 9.3 Critical EPSS 99.9% · p100.0 Check exposure
Should you act?
Exploited: patch now if you run it
CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.
- Yes, if you run Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2024-11-18, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2024-12-09; treat that as the outer limit, not the target. CISA also lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
- EPSS 99.9%, percentile 100.0: FIRST’s model estimates a 99.9% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 100.0% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
- Editorial verdict: Check exposure. PAN-OS Management Auth Bypass Chain (Lunar Peek) — Exploited at scale in late 2024 and patched for almost two years; if your management interface was ever internet-reachable, verify the fix and hunt for leftovers rather than assume you are clean.
What it is
An authentication bypass in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software enables an unauthenticated attacker with network access to the management web interface to gain PAN-OS administrator privileges to perform administrative actions, tamper with the configuration, or exploit other authenticated privilege escalation vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-9474 https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2024-9474 . The risk of this issue is greatly reduced if you secure access to the management web interface by restricting access to only trusted internal IP addresses according to our recommended best practice deployment guidelines https://live.paloaltonetworks.com/t5/community-blogs/tips-amp-tricks-how-to-secure-the-management-access-of-your-palo/ba-p/464431 . This issue is applicable only to PAN-OS 10.2, PAN-OS 11.0, PAN-OS 11.1, and PAN-OS 11.2 software. Cloud NGFW and Prisma Access are not impacted by this vulnerability.
CISA’s summary
Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS contains an authentication bypass vulnerability in the web-based management interface for several PAN-OS products, including firewalls and VPN concentrators.
Weakness type: CWE-306.
Product: Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS · Assigned by: palo_alto · Published: 2024-11-18
Affected and fixed versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions (per CVE record) |
|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto Networks | Cloud NGFW | see vendor advisory |
| Palo Alto Networks | PAN-OS | 11.2.0 < 11.2.4-h1, 11.1.0 < 11.1.5-h1, 11.0.0 < 11.0.6-h1, 10.2.0 < 10.2.12-h2 |
| Palo Alto Networks | Prisma Access | see vendor advisory |
Severity scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| palo_alto | 4.0 | 9.3 Critical | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:L/SI:N/SA:N/AU:N/R:U/V:C/RE:H/U:Red |
| palo_alto | 4.0 | 5.9 Medium | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/AU:N/R:U/V:C/RE:H/U:Red |
- Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
- Attack complexity: low
- Attack requirements: none
- Privileges required: none (no login)
- User interaction: none
CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.
Exploitation and urgency
- CISA KEV: added 2024-11-18; federal due date 2024-12-09. Known ransomware use: Known.
- CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Additionally, management interface for affected devices should not be exposed to untrusted networks, including the internet.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active, automatable yes, technical impact total.
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 99.86% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 100.0.
Timeline
- — Added to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
- — CVE record published by palo_alto
- — erroneo.us brief: PAN-OS Management Auth Bypass Chain (Lunar Peek)
- — CISA remediation deadline for US federal agencies
- — CVE record last updated
Sources and references
Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.
Vendor and project advisories, patches
- security.paloaltonetworks.com security.paloaltonetworks.com
Vulnerability records
- CVE.org record CVE-2024-0012 cve.org
- NVD entry CVE-2024-0012 nvd.nist.gov
Government
Other references from the CVE record and advisory
- labs.watchtowr.com labs.watchtowr.com
- unit42.paloaltonetworks.com unit42.paloaltonetworks.com
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