CVE-2020-2008 in PAN-OS
Summary
by MITRE
An OS command injection and external control of filename vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS allows authenticated administrators to execute code with root privileges or delete arbitrary system files and impact the system's integrity or cause a denial of service condition. This issue affects: All versions of PAN-OS 7.1 and 8.0; PAN-OS 8.1 versions earlier than 8.1.14.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS operating systems that combines multiple attack vectors to enable arbitrary code execution with root privileges. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization in the system's handling of user-supplied data within administrative interfaces. Attackers with authenticated administrator access can exploit this weakness to inject operating system commands directly into the system, bypassing normal security controls and executing malicious code with the highest possible privileges. The flaw specifically affects versions 7.1 and 8.0 across the entire PAN-OS spectrum, as well as PAN-OS 8.1 versions prior to 8.1.14, indicating a widespread impact across multiple release branches. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-78 which specifically addresses OS command injection flaws, where insufficient sanitization of user inputs allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1486 for data destruction, as it enables both code execution and file manipulation capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of file naming parameters within the administrative interface, allowing attackers to control file paths and potentially execute commands through crafted input sequences. When authenticated administrators interact with certain administrative functions, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters that are subsequently used in system calls or file operations. This creates an environment where malicious commands can be injected into the command execution pipeline, effectively allowing attackers to execute arbitrary system commands with root privileges. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to include the ability to delete arbitrary system files, which can severely compromise system integrity and availability. The vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor for attackers to manipulate system files and potentially cause complete system compromise, as the root privileges granted allow for complete system control and modification. The combination of command injection and external filename control creates a particularly dangerous attack surface where an authenticated attacker can not only execute code but also directly manipulate the filesystem, potentially leading to complete system takeover.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, affecting organizations that rely on Palo Alto Networks firewalls for network security. Once exploited, attackers can gain complete administrative control over affected devices, potentially allowing them to modify firewall rules, access network traffic, or even disable security features entirely. The ability to delete arbitrary system files creates additional risks including system instability, complete denial of service conditions, and potential data loss scenarios. Organizations using affected PAN-OS versions face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential network compromise, as the vulnerability does not require special privileges beyond authenticated administrator access. The widespread nature of affected versions means that many organizations may be unknowingly exposed to this threat, particularly those running legacy PAN-OS releases. The vulnerability also impacts system availability through potential denial of service conditions that can occur when critical system files are deleted or corrupted, potentially rendering firewall devices inoperable and leaving networks vulnerable to attacks. The root privilege escalation capability means that even if organizations have implemented security measures such as role-based access controls, an attacker who gains administrator credentials can escalate their privileges to the maximum possible level, effectively bypassing all security boundaries.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the patched versions of PAN-OS, specifically PAN-OS 8.1.14 and later releases for affected versions. The patch addresses the input validation issues by implementing proper sanitization of user inputs and ensuring that administrative functions properly validate file naming parameters before processing. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring and logging of administrative activities to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly around file manipulation and command execution events. Access controls should be strengthened through principle of least privilege, ensuring that administrative accounts are only accessible to authorized personnel with legitimate business needs. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts that may have occurred prior to patching. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the updated systems to ensure that the patch does not introduce any compatibility issues with existing network configurations. Additionally, organizations should review their incident response procedures to ensure they can quickly detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts involving this vulnerability, as early detection is critical to preventing successful compromise of network security infrastructure.