CVE-2025-0108: Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
Palo Alto Networks · PAN-OS · NVD published 2025-02-13 · posted 2025-02-18 · last modified 2026-09-24
What it is
An authentication bypass in the Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software enables an unauthenticated attacker with network access to the management web interface to bypass the authentication otherwise required by the PAN-OS management web interface and invoke certain PHP scripts. While invoking these PHP scripts does not enable remote code execution, it can negatively impact integrity and confidentiality of PAN-OS. 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 . This issue does not affect Cloud NGFW or Prisma Access software.
| Weakness | CWE-306 |
|---|---|
| CVSS vector | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:N/R:U/V:C/RE:M/U:Red (source: [email protected]) |
| CISA due date | 2025-03-11 (for US federal agencies under BOD; a good deadline for everyone) |
| ATT&CK tactics | Initial Access → Privilege Escalation → Stealth → Impact |
Exploitation evidence
First exploit evidence seen: 2025-02-13 (earliest date across the sources below).
Exploited in the wild
- CISA KEV: listed since 2025-02-18. Source
Public exploit code
GitHub proof-of-concept repositories
7 public repositories from 7 accounts, first seen 2025-02-13. Most starred: iSee857/CVE-2025-0108-PoC (33 stars), view repository.
Verify before running: public PoCs can be malicious. Read the code and only run it in an isolated lab. A PoC means exploit code is public, not that this CVE is exploited in the wild.
Sources: CISA KEV · nomi-sec/PoC-in-GitHub.
Defend the Chain
The attack chain for CVE-2025-0108 laid across the MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise tactics. Solid cards come from the MITRE CTID KEV mappings; dashed cards are inferred by CVERadar from the CWE or description. Correct defences are real ATT&CK mitigations for that technique.
Pick a red technique card on the board, then choose the defence that stops it.
Defend against T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application CTID: exploitation technique
This exploit is part of a chain of exploits (with CVE-2025-0108 and CVE-2024-9474) that can end with an attacker gaining root access to the system. This vulnerability allows the attacker to bypass authentication using the PAN-OS web management interface, as well as invoke PHP scripts. The attacker can also use their newfound privileged access to reconfigure the firewall, allowing for backdoors to be created.
How to fix it
CISA required action
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. (source: CISA KEV)
Fixed versions
- paloaltonetworks pan-os: upgrade to 10.1.14 or later (affected from 10.1.0)
- paloaltonetworks pan-os: upgrade to 10.2.7 or later (affected from 10.2.0)
- paloaltonetworks pan-os: upgrade to 11.1.2 or later (affected from 11.1.0)
- paloaltonetworks pan-os: upgrade to 11.2.4 or later (affected from 11.2.0)
Derived from the NVD CPE configuration (versionEndExcluding / versionEndIncluding). Always confirm with the vendor advisory.
Vendor advisories and patches
- https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2025-0108 (CISA KEV notes)
MITRE ATT&CK mitigations for this chain
- M1048 Application Isolation and Sandboxing (for T1190) : Application isolation will limit what other processes and system features the exploited target can access.
- M1037 Filter Network Traffic (for T1190) : Restrict outbound network traffic from public-facing servers to prevent unauthorized connections from initiating communications with attacker-controlled infrastructure. While this may not prevent the initial exploitation, it limits the attacker's ability to verify and control the compromised server post-exploit, reduci
- M1030 Network Segmentation (for T1190) : Segment externally facing servers and services from the rest of the network with a DMZ or on separate hosting infrastructure.
- M1016 Vulnerability Scanning (for T1190) : Regularly scan externally facing systems for vulnerabilities and establish procedures to rapidly patch systems when critical vulnerabilities are discovered through scanning and through public disclosure.
- M1026 Privileged Account Management (for T1190, T1055) : Use least privilege for service accounts will limit what permissions the exploited process gets on the rest of the system.
- M1050 Exploit Protection (for T1190) : Web Application Firewalls may be used to limit exposure of applications to prevent exploit traffic from reaching the application.
- M1035 Limit Access to Resource Over Network (for T1190) : Ensure that all publicly exposed services are actually intended to be so, and restrict access to any that should only be available internally.
- M1051 Update Software (for T1190) : Update software regularly by employing patch management for externally exposed applications.
- M1040 Behavior Prevention on Endpoint (for T1055) : Some endpoint security solutions can be configured to block some types of process injection based on common sequences of behavior that occur during the injection process. For example, on Windows 10, Attack Surface Reduction (ASR) rules may prevent Office applications from code injection.
- M1022 Restrict File and Directory Permissions (for T1565.001) : Ensure least privilege principles are applied to important information resources to reduce exposure to data manipulation risk.
Detection Generic guidance
- Initial Access: Alert on unusual requests to the affected service (odd paths, oversized payloads, exploit strings) in WAF, reverse-proxy and application logs.
- Privilege Escalation: Alert on processes gaining SYSTEM/root unexpectedly, and on exploitation crashes of privileged services.
- Impact: Monitor service availability, unexpected encryption activity and mass file changes.
Response checklist Generic guidance
- Inventory: find every instance of the affected product and version (include internet-facing and forgotten ones).
- Patch or mitigate per the vendor advisory; if you cannot patch, remove internet exposure or apply the vendor workaround.
- Assume compromise if the system was exposed before patching: hunt for the indicators in the advisory and review logs back to the disclosure date.
- Rotate credentials and secrets stored on or used by the affected system if compromise cannot be ruled out.
Sources
- NVD: CVE-2025-0108
- CVE.org record
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
- FIRST EPSS (2026-10-24)
- MITRE CTID Mappings Explorer: KEV → ATT&CK
- https://github.com/iSee857/CVE-2025-0108-PoC (Exploit, Third Party Advisory)
- https://slcyber.io/blog/nginx-apache-path-confusion-to-auth-bypass-in-pan-os/ (Exploit, Press/Media Coverage)
- https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/palo-alto-networks-tags-new-firewall-bug-as-exploited-in-attacks/ (Press/Media Coverage, Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.darkreading.com/remote-workforce/patch-now-cisa-researchers-warn-palo-alto-flaw-exploited-wild (Press/Media Coverage, Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.securityweek.com/palo-alto-networks-confirms-exploitation-of-firewall-vulnerability/ (Press/Media Coverage, Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/19/palo_alto_firewall_attack/ (Press/Media Coverage, Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-0108 (US Government Resource)