CVE-2016-3654 in PAN-OS
Summary
by MITRE
The device management command line interface (CLI) in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS before 5.0.18, 5.1.x before 5.1.11, 6.0.x before 6.0.13, 6.1.x before 6.1.10, and 7.0.x before 7.0.5H2 allows remote authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary OS commands via an SSH command parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3654 represents a critical command injection flaw within the device management command line interface of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS operating systems. This security weakness affects multiple versions of the firewall software, specifically targeting releases before the mentioned patches including 5.0.18, 5.1.11, 6.0.13, 6.1.10, and 7.0.5H2. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the SSH command parameter processing, allowing authenticated administrators to inject malicious operating system commands that execute with elevated privileges on the underlying system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper sanitization of user-supplied input within the CLI processing framework. When an authenticated administrator submits an SSH command parameter, the system fails to adequately validate or escape special characters that could be interpreted as command delimiters or operators. This allows attackers to manipulate the command execution flow by injecting additional commands that bypass normal access controls and execute with the privileges of the administrative account. The flaw operates at the interface level where the management CLI processes user input, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages legitimate administrative access to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code on the device.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected firewall device. Once exploited, an attacker can execute arbitrary OS commands that may include system reconnaissance, data exfiltration, modification of firewall rules, or even installation of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects the core management functionality of the PAN-OS platform, potentially compromising the entire network security infrastructure. Organizations relying on these vulnerable versions face significant risk as the compromised device could be used as a pivot point for lateral movement within the network, or to establish persistent access for future attacks. The remote execution capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the device, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations with distributed network infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, specifically addressing command injection flaws in input validation and execution contexts. From the MITRE ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command execution and privilege escalation, potentially enabling adversaries to establish persistence through the execution of malicious code on the device. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including deployment of the vendor-provided security patches and updates, along with monitoring for suspicious administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and strict access controls for administrative accounts should be enforced, while continuous monitoring of SSH sessions and command execution logs should be implemented to detect potential abuse of this vulnerability. The affected versions should be upgraded to patched releases as soon as possible to eliminate the risk of exploitation and maintain compliance with industry security standards.