CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2022-0016NVD status: Modified

GlobalProtect App: Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions

CVE-2022-0016 is a high-severity improper handling of exceptional conditions vulnerability in GlobalProtect App from Palo Alto Networks, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists version 5.2.9 as the first without the flaw, so updating GlobalProtect App to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.21% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update GlobalProtect App to 5.2.9 or a later version.
  2. Update Globalprotect to 5.2.9 or a later version.
  3. Read the advisory on security.paloaltonetworks.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Palo Alto NetworksGlobalProtect App5.2 up to, but not including, 5.2.95.2.9
Palo Alto NetworksGlobalprotect5.2 up to, but not including, 5.2.95.2.9

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.4HighCNA (paloaltonetworks.com)
CVSS 3.17.8HighNVD
CVSS 2.06.9MediumNVD

Official description

An improper handling of exceptional conditions vulnerability exists within the Connect Before Logon feature of the Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect app that enables a local attacker to escalate to SYSTEM or root privileges when authenticating with Connect Before Logon under certain circumstances. This issue impacts GlobalProtect app 5.2 versions earlier than GlobalProtect app 5.2.9 on Windows and MacOS. This issue does not affect the GlobalProtect app on other platforms.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions

The product does not handle or incorrectly handles an exceptional condition.

More Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions vulnerabilities (CWE-755)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in GlobalProtect App

All GlobalProtect App vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions vulnerabilities

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