CVE-2020-1981 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A predictable temporary filename vulnerability in PAN-OS allows local privilege escalation.

Understanding CVE-2020-1981

What is CVE-2020-1981?

A predictable temporary filename vulnerability in PAN-OS enables local attackers to execute commands as low privileged users, gaining root access.

The Impact of CVE-2020-1981

The vulnerability affects PAN-OS versions prior to 8.1.13, excluding versions 7.1, 9.0, and later, posing a high-risk of local privilege escalation.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-1981

Vulnerability Description

PAN-OS vulnerability allows local privilege escalation through predictable temporary filenames.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Versions: PAN-OS 8.1 < 8.1.13
Not Affected: PAN-OS 7.1, 9.0, and later versions

Exploitation Mechanism

The issue can be exploited by local attackers who bypass restricted shells to gain root access on PAN-OS hardware or virtual appliances.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to PAN-OS version 8.1.13 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Apply security best practices for securing the PAN-OS management interface.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and follow Palo Alto Networks' best practices guidelines for securing administrative access in PAN-OS 8.1.

Patching and Updates

The issue is resolved in PAN-OS 8.1.13 and all subsequent PAN-OS 8.1 versions.