CVE-2025-0113 in Cortex XDR Broker VM
Summary
by MITRE • 02/12/2025
A problem with the network isolation mechanism of the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Broker VM allows attackers unauthorized access to Docker containers from the host network used by Broker VM. This may allow access to read files sent for analysis and logs transmitted by the Cortex XDR Agent to the Cortex XDR server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-0113 represents a critical network isolation failure within the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Broker VM implementation. This flaw fundamentally undermines the security boundaries designed to protect sensitive data processing environments where the broker vm operates as a critical component in the threat detection and response infrastructure. The issue manifests through insufficient network segmentation that allows unauthorized lateral movement from the host network directly into the containerized environment where analysis payloads are processed, creating a direct pathway for attackers to bypass intended security controls.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper network namespace configuration and container runtime security policies within the Cortex XDR Broker VM architecture. Specifically, the network isolation mechanisms fail to properly enforce container network boundaries, enabling network traffic from the host system to reach the Docker containers that process sensitive data from the Cortex XDR agent. This misconfiguration creates a direct network path that violates fundamental security principles of containerized environments where host and container networks should remain logically separated. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-16 Architecture and Design Errors, specifically addressing weaknesses in network isolation and container security boundaries.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-0113 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data exfiltration and intelligence compromise. Attackers who exploit this vulnerability gain access to files that have been submitted for analysis by the Cortex XDR agent, potentially including sensitive threat intelligence, malware samples, and forensic evidence. Additionally, the vulnerability exposes logs transmitted by the Cortex XDR agent to the server, which may contain detailed information about network activities, system configurations, and security events that could be leveraged for further attacks. This exposure represents a significant risk to organizational security posture as it provides adversaries with both operational data and intelligence about the security environment.
From a threat actor perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol: DNS and T1566.001 Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers could use the compromised container access to gather intelligence for targeting. The vulnerability also aligns with T1005 Data from Local System and T1021.001 Remote Services: Telnet, representing potential data exfiltration vectors and lateral movement opportunities. Organizations using Cortex XDR are particularly at risk as the exposure affects the core threat intelligence processing capabilities of the platform, potentially compromising the integrity of security operations and threat hunting activities.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing immediate network segmentation controls and container runtime security policies. Organizations should deploy network access controls that prevent direct communication between the host network and containerized processing environments, ensuring proper network namespace isolation is enforced. The implementation of container runtime security tools that monitor and restrict container network access patterns provides additional defense-in-depth. Palo Alto Networks should be consulted for specific patch updates and configuration recommendations, while organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous container network traffic patterns. Regular security assessments of containerized environments and network segmentation policies should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the security infrastructure.