CVE-2020-2050 : What You Need to Know

An authentication bypass vulnerability in the GlobalProtect SSL VPN component of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software allows attackers to bypass client certificate checks, potentially gaining unauthorized access to VPN resources.

Understanding CVE-2020-2050

This CVE involves an authentication bypass vulnerability in the GlobalProtect SSL VPN client certificate verification.

What is CVE-2020-2050?

This vulnerability in PAN-OS software enables remote attackers to authenticate as any user and access restricted VPN network resources by exploiting certificate-based authentication.

The Impact of CVE-2020-2050

Attackers can bypass all client certificate checks with an invalid certificate
Successful authentication as any user
Unauthorized access to restricted VPN network resources

Technical Details of CVE-2020-2050

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

An authentication bypass vulnerability in GlobalProtect SSL VPN
Allows attackers to bypass client certificate checks
Impacts GlobalProtect Gateway, Portal, and Clientless VPN

Affected Systems and Versions

PAN-OS 8.1 versions earlier than 8.1.17
PAN-OS 9.0 versions earlier than 9.0.11
PAN-OS 9.1 versions earlier than 9.1.5
PAN-OS 10.0 versions earlier than 10.0.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Remote attackers exploit certificate-based authentication
Gain unauthorized access to VPN resources

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2020-2050.

Immediate Steps to Take

Configure GlobalProtect SSL VPN to require user authentication with credentials
Ensure other authentication methods are not impacted

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update PAN-OS software to the latest versions
Implement multi-factor authentication for enhanced security

Patching and Updates

Issue fixed in PAN-OS 8.1.17, 9.0.11, 9.1.5, 10.0.1, and later versions