CVE-2020-2049 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Agent on the Windows platform that allows an authenticated local Windows user to execute programs with SYSTEM privileges. This vulnerability affects various versions of the Cortex XDR Agent.

Understanding CVE-2020-2049

This CVE involves an improper control of loaded DLL leading to local privilege escalation.

What is CVE-2020-2049?

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Agent on Windows, enabling authenticated local users to run programs with elevated privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2020-2049

CVSS Base Score: 7.8 (High)
Attack Vector: Local
Confidentiality Impact: High
Integrity Impact: High
Availability Impact: High
Privileges Required: Low

Technical Details of CVE-2020-2049

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows authenticated local Windows users to execute programs with SYSTEM privileges by exploiting the improper control of loaded DLLs.

Affected Systems and Versions

Cortex XDR Agent 7.1 without content update 150
Cortex XDR Agent 7.2 without content update 150

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability requires the user to have the privilege to create files in the Windows root directory.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-2049, follow these mitigation steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply Cortex XDR Agent content update version 150 or later for Cortex XDR Agent 7.1 and 7.2
Prevent local authenticated Windows users from creating files in the Windows root directory

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch the Cortex XDR Agent
Implement least privilege access controls

Patching and Updates

Content updates are automatically applied for the agent
No version upgrade is required to resolve this issue