CVE-2020-2028 : Security Advisory and Response

An OS Command Injection vulnerability in PAN-OS management server allows authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary OS commands with root privileges when uploading a new certificate in FIPS-CC mode. This vulnerability affects various versions of PAN-OS.

Understanding CVE-2020-2028

This CVE involves a critical OS Command Injection vulnerability in PAN-OS, impacting the security of the management server.

What is CVE-2020-2028?

CVE-2020-2028 is an OS Command Injection vulnerability in PAN-OS that enables authenticated administrators to run arbitrary OS commands with root privileges during the certificate upload process in FIPS-CC mode.

The Impact of CVE-2020-2028

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 7.2, indicating a high severity level with significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-2028

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows authenticated administrators to execute unauthorized OS commands with elevated privileges, posing a serious security risk.

Affected Systems and Versions

PAN-OS 7.1 and PAN-OS 8.0 are affected in all versions.
PAN-OS 8.1 versions earlier than 8.1.13 are vulnerable.
PAN-OS 9.0 versions earlier than 9.0.7 are at risk.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by authenticated administrators during the certificate upload process in FIPS-CC mode, leading to the execution of unauthorized OS commands.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2020-2028 by following these mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to PAN-OS 8.1.13, 9.0.7, or later versions to address the vulnerability.
Implement best practices for securing the PAN-OS management interface.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch PAN-OS to prevent security vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and assessments to identify and address potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates provided by Palo Alto Networks to mitigate the vulnerability.