CVE-2026-0295 in GlobalProtect
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2026
A race condition in the Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect™ client on macOS enables a locally authenticated low-privileged attacker to escalate their privileges to root.
The GlobalProtect app on Linux, Windows, iOS, Android, and Chrome OS is not affected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect client implementation on macOS systems. The race condition occurs during the client's operation when multiple processes or threads attempt to access shared resources simultaneously without proper synchronization mechanisms. Such conditions create temporal windows where the system's state can be manipulated by an attacker, leading to unexpected behavior and potential security breaches.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from improper handling of concurrent operations within the GlobalProtect client application. When a local user with standard privileges executes malicious code or exploits specific timing conditions, they can manipulate the application's internal processes to gain elevated system access. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-362 category known as "Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization," which specifically addresses race conditions in multi-threaded environments. The flaw manifests because the application fails to properly implement atomic operations or mutex locks when accessing critical system resources during its normal operational lifecycle.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows any locally authenticated user to escalate their privileges from standard user level to root access without requiring additional authentication mechanisms. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the system's security model where the principle of least privilege is violated, enabling attackers to gain complete control over affected macOS systems. The attack vector requires only local access and does not necessitate network connectivity or specialized tools beyond what a regular user might already have available on the system.
The affected platforms include macOS versions where the GlobalProtect client operates, while Linux, Windows, iOS, Android, and Chrome OS implementations remain unaffected by this specific flaw. This platform-specific nature suggests that the vulnerability is tied to particular implementation details unique to the macOS version of the application, potentially related to how system calls are handled or how process management operates on Apple's operating system. Organizations using Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect on macOS systems face significant risk if they do not apply immediate patches or mitigations, as this vulnerability can be exploited by any user with local login access.
Mitigation strategies should include applying the latest security patches provided by Palo Alto Networks, which typically address the specific race condition through proper synchronization mechanisms. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as restricting local user privileges where possible and monitoring for unusual process behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1068 "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" with potential techniques including T1543 "Create or Modify System Process" and T1059 "Command and Scripting Interpreter" as attackers may use the elevated privileges to establish persistence. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior patterns associated with privilege escalation activities on their networks.