---
title: "CVE-2024-0012: Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS Management Interface Authentication Bypass Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2024-0012/
description: "CVE-2024-0012 (Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS): Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). An authentication bypass in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software enables an…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2024-11-18
date_modified: 2026-10-21
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2024-0012"
kev: true
cvss: 9.3
epss: 0.99855
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2024-0012: Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS Management Interface Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

**Signal:** Exploited: patch now if you run it. CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- 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.

## Affected products (CVE record)

- Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW: see 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 advisory

## Severity

- palo_alto CVSS 4.0: 9.3 `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 CVSS 4.0: 5.9 `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`

## Exploitation

- 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.

## Sources

- [security.paloaltonetworks.com](https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2024-0012)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2024-0012](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-0012)
- [NVD entry CVE-2024-0012](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-0012)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2024-0012)
- [labs.watchtowr.com](https://labs.watchtowr.com/pots-and-pans-aka-an-sslvpn-palo-alto-pan-os-cve-2024-0012-and-cve-2024-9474/)
- [unit42.paloaltonetworks.com](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/cve-2024-0012-cve-2024-9474/)

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Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2024-0012/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt