CVE-2025-0110 in PAN-OS OpenConfig Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/12/2025
A command injection vulnerability in the Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS OpenConfig plugin enables an authenticated administrator with the ability to make gNMI requests to the PAN-OS management web interface to bypass system restrictions and run arbitrary commands. The commands are run as the “__openconfig” user (which has the Device Administrator role) on the firewall.
You can greatly reduce the risk of this issue by restricting access to the management web interface to only trusted internal IP addresses according to our recommended best practices deployment guidelines https://live.paloaltonetworks.com/t5/community-blogs/tips-amp-tricks-how-to-secure-the-management-access-of-your-palo/ba-p/464431 .
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-0110 represents a critical command injection flaw within the Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS OpenConfig plugin ecosystem. This security weakness specifically targets the gNMI (gRPC Network Management Interface) functionality that enables remote management of network devices through standardized protocols. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the OpenConfig plugin's handling of gNMI requests, creating an attack vector that allows authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary commands on the firewall system. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates within the legitimate management interface, making it difficult to detect through traditional security monitoring mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of improper sanitization of user-supplied data within the gNMI request processing pipeline. When an authenticated administrator submits a crafted gNMI request through the management web interface, the system fails to properly validate or escape command parameters before executing them. This results in command injection that allows attackers to bypass normal system restrictions and execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The commands execute under the context of the "__openconfig" user account, which possesses the Device Administrator role, granting attackers full administrative control over the firewall. This privilege escalation capability significantly amplifies the impact of the vulnerability, as it provides complete access to network configuration, traffic inspection, and security policy management functions.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-0110 extends beyond simple command execution, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the network infrastructure. Attackers with access to the management interface can modify firewall rules, disable security features, redirect traffic, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the network. The vulnerability affects the core management capabilities of PAN-OS systems, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive network data and compromise the security posture of the entire organization. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-88 categories, which specifically address command injection flaws and improper input validation respectively, while also mapping to ATT&CK techniques such as T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with the immediate restriction of management interface access to trusted internal IP addresses as recommended by Palo Alto Networks. This approach aligns with the principle of least privilege and network segmentation best practices that are fundamental to secure system design. Additional mitigations include implementing strict access controls for gNMI interfaces, enabling multi-factor authentication for administrative access, and regularly monitoring for anomalous gNMI request patterns. Network administrators should also consider implementing network access control lists to restrict access to management ports and services, while maintaining comprehensive logging of all management interface activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and input validation, particularly when implementing protocol handlers that process external data within security-critical applications.