Cortex XDR agent: Protection Mechanism Failure
CVE-2023-0002 is a high-severity protection mechanism failure vulnerability in Cortex XDR agent 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 versions 7.5.101-CE, 5.0.12.22203 as the first without the flaw, so updating Cortex XDR agent to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.29% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Cortex XDR agent to 7.5.101-CE or 5.0.12.22203, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on security.paloaltonetworks.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto Networks | Cortex XDR agent | 7.5 up to, but not including, 7.5.101-CE; 5.0 up to, but not including, 5.0.12.22203 | 7.5.101-CE, 5.0.12.22203 |
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 system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 5.5 | Medium | CNA (paloaltonetworks.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | NVD |
Official description
A problem with a protection mechanism in the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR agent on Windows devices allows a local user to execute privileged cytool commands that disable or uninstall the agent.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Protection Mechanism Failure
The product does not use or incorrectly uses a protection mechanism that provides sufficient defense against directed attacks against the product.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in Cortex XDR agent
- 7.0 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
Recent Protection Mechanism Failure vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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