CVE-2020-1990 in PAN-OS
Summary
by MITRE
A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the management server component of PAN-OS allows an authenticated user to upload a corrupted PAN-OS configuration and potentially execute code with root privileges. This issue affects Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS 8.1 versions before 8.1.13; 9.0 versions before 9.0.7. This issue does not affect PAN-OS 7.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-1990 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within the management server component of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS operating systems. This flaw exists in specific versions of the firewall software where an authenticated attacker can exploit the vulnerability by uploading a specially crafted PAN-OS configuration file. The buffer overflow occurs during the processing of configuration data within the management server's memory space, creating an opportunity for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows privilege escalation to root level access, which would provide complete control over the affected device. The issue affects PAN-OS 8.1 versions prior to 8.1.13 and 9.0 versions prior to 9.0.7, while PAN-OS 7.1 remains unaffected by this particular vulnerability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The management server component in question processes configuration uploads and performs various validation operations that fail to properly sanitize input data. When an authenticated user uploads a corrupted configuration file, the parsing routine does not adequately validate the size or structure of the incoming data, leading to memory corruption. This memory corruption manifests as a stack buffer overflow that can be leveraged to overwrite return addresses and function pointers within the program's execution context, ultimately enabling code execution. The vulnerability requires authentication to exploit, meaning an attacker must first establish valid credentials to the PAN-OS management interface, but once authenticated, the privilege escalation to root access becomes possible.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-1990 extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it represents a complete compromise of the firewall device. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains root privileges on the affected PAN-OS system, allowing them to modify firewall rules, access all network traffic logs, extract sensitive configuration information, and potentially use the compromised device as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The management server component being targeted is critical to the operation of the firewall, as it handles configuration management, user authentication, and system administration functions. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where firewalls serve as primary security boundaries. The affected versions span multiple major releases, indicating this was a widespread issue that could impact organizations with various PAN-OS deployments across their network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-1990 focus primarily on immediate patching of affected PAN-OS versions to the recommended secure releases. Organizations should prioritize upgrading their PAN-OS systems to version 8.1.13 or later for 8.1 releases, and 9.0.7 or later for 9.0 releases. Additionally, network administrators should implement strict access controls and monitoring for configuration upload activities, as the vulnerability requires authenticated access to exploit. Security teams should consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of a successful compromise, while also monitoring for unusual configuration changes or unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would place it within the privilege escalation category, specifically targeting the management plane of network security devices. Organizations should also review their change management processes to ensure that configuration uploads are properly validated and that only authorized personnel have access to management interfaces, as this vulnerability highlights the importance of least privilege access controls in security infrastructure management.