CVE-2020-2040 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2020-2040, a critical buffer overflow vulnerability in PAN-OS allowing attackers to execute code with root privileges. Find mitigation steps and upgrade information.
A buffer overflow vulnerability in PAN-OS allows attackers to disrupt system processes and potentially execute arbitrary code with root privileges.
Understanding CVE-2020-2040
What is CVE-2020-2040?
A buffer overflow vulnerability in PAN-OS enables unauthenticated attackers to exploit the Captive Portal or Multi-Factor Authentication interface, impacting various PAN-OS versions.
The Impact of CVE-2020-2040
The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 9.8 (Critical) with high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-2040
Vulnerability Description
- Unauthenticated attackers can disrupt system processes and execute arbitrary code with root privileges.
Affected Systems and Versions
- PAN-OS 8.0, 8.1 < 8.1.15, 9.0 < 9.0.9, 9.1 < 9.1.3
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attackers send malicious requests to the Captive Portal or MFA interface.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Upgrade to PAN-OS 8.1.15, 9.0.9, 9.1.3, or later versions.
- Enable signatures in content update version 8317 until software upgrade.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update PAN-OS to the latest version.
- Implement security best practices to prevent buffer overflow attacks.
Patching and Updates
- All Prisma Access services are upgraded to address the vulnerability.