CVE-2020-2004 in GlobalProtect App
Summary
by MITRE
Under certain circumstances a user's password may be logged in cleartext in the PanGPS.log diagnostic file when logs are collected for troubleshooting on GlobalProtect app (also known as GlobalProtect Agent) for MacOS and Windows. For this issue to occur all of these conditions must be true: (1) 'Save User Credential' option should be set to 'Yes' in the GlobalProtect Portal's Agent configuration, (2) the GlobalProtect user manually selects a gateway, (3) and the logging level is set to 'Dump' while collecting troubleshooting logs. This issue does not affect GlobalProtect app on other platforms (for example iOS/Android/Linux). This issue affects GlobalProtect app 5.0 versions earlier than 5.0.9, GlobalProtect app 5.1 versions earlier than 5.1.2 on Windows or MacOS. Since becoming aware of the issue, Palo Alto Networks has safely deleted all the known GlobalProtectLogs zip files sent by customers with the credentials. We now filter and remove these credentials from all files sent to Customer Support. The GlobalProtectLogs zip files uploaded to Palo Alto Networks systems were only accessible by authorized personnel with valid Palo Alto Networks credentials. We do not have any evidence of malicious access or use of these credentials.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical credential exposure issue within Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect client applications affecting macOS and Windows platforms. The flaw manifests when specific configuration conditions align to create a situation where user passwords are stored in cleartext within diagnostic log files. The vulnerability operates through a combination of three precise prerequisites that must simultaneously exist for the issue to occur. First, the 'Save User Credential' option must be explicitly enabled in the GlobalProtect Portal's Agent configuration, which essentially instructs the system to retain authentication information. Second, users must manually select a gateway connection, which triggers the credential handling process. Third, the logging level must be configured to 'Dump' mode during troubleshooting activities, which enables verbose logging that captures sensitive data. This specific combination creates a dangerous scenario where authentication credentials bypass normal security protections and are written to log files in an easily readable format.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and logging practices within the GlobalProtect client software. When the specified conditions are met, the application's logging mechanism fails to properly obfuscate or filter sensitive authentication data before writing it to diagnostic files. This represents a classic case of insufficient data protection during logging operations, which aligns with CWE-532, "Information Exposure Through Log Data," and CWE-200, "Information Exposure." The vulnerability demonstrates poor security design where sensitive information flows through the system without proper sanitization or encryption, particularly when the system is in a troubleshooting state where verbose logging is enabled. The flaw specifically impacts versions 5.0.x prior to 5.0.9 and 5.1.x prior to 5.1.2, indicating this was a known issue that required specific version updates to resolve.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as it creates potential attack vectors for adversaries who might gain access to diagnostic files. While Palo Alto Networks has confirmed that no malicious access or use of these credentials has been observed, the potential for exploitation remains significant given that these files were accessible to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability affects only specific platforms including macOS and Windows, excluding iOS, Android, and Linux versions, suggesting platform-specific implementation differences in credential handling. The security implications include potential unauthorized access to user accounts, privilege escalation opportunities, and the possibility of credential reuse attacks against other systems where users may have employed the same passwords. This vulnerability also impacts organizational security posture by creating a potential data leak channel that could compromise multiple user accounts if the diagnostic files were inadvertently shared or accessed by unauthorized parties.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched versions 5.0.9 and 5.1.2 for affected platforms, disabling the 'Save User Credential' option in configurations where possible, and implementing strict access controls on diagnostic file collection and storage. Security teams should review existing GlobalProtect configurations to ensure that the problematic combination of settings is not enabled in production environments. The remediation strategy should include monitoring for any previously collected diagnostic files that might contain the cleartext credentials and implementing automated filtering processes to remove sensitive data from future submissions. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring to detect unusual patterns in diagnostic file uploads and establish clear protocols for handling sensitive information in troubleshooting scenarios. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure logging practices and demonstrates how seemingly benign configuration options can create significant security risks when combined with specific operational conditions, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1567.002 for "Exfiltration Over Web Service" and T1531 for "Account Access Removal" through credential exposure.