Cloud NGFW: Heap-based Buffer Overflow
CVE-2026-0264 is a critical-severity heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Cloud NGFW from Palo Alto Networks, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.6% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update PAN-OS to 12.1.7, 12.1.4-h5 or 11.2.12, 11.2.10-h6, 11.2.7-h13, 11.2.4-h17 or 10.2.18-h6, 10.2.16-h7, 10.2.13-h21, 10.2.10-h36, 10.2.7-h34, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on security.paloaltonetworks.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto Networks | Cloud NGFW | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Palo Alto Networks | PAN-OS | 12.1.0 up to, but not including, 12.1.7, 12.1.4-h5; 11.2.0 up to, but not including, 11.2.12, 11.2.10-h6, 11.2.7-h13, 11.2.4-h17; 11.1.0; 10.2.0 up to, but not including, 10.2.18-h6, 10.2.16-h7, 10.2.13-h21, 10.2.10-h36, 10.2.7-h34 | 12.1.7, 12.1.4-h5, 11.2.12, 11.2.10-h6, 11.2.7-h13, 11.2.4-h17, 10.2.18-h6, 10.2.16-h7, 10.2.13-h21, 10.2.10-h36, 10.2.7-h34 |
| Palo Alto Networks | Prisma Access | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Siemens | RUGGEDCOM APE1808 | all versions | Not stated |
| Siemens | Ruggedcom Ape1808 Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
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
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- 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:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 7.2 | High | CNA (paloaltonetworks.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.8 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
A buffer overflow vulnerability in the DNS proxy and DNS Server features of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS® Software allows an unauthenticated attacker with network access to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition (all PAN-OS platforms except Cloud NGFW and Prisma Access) or potentially execute arbitrary code by sending specially crafted network traffic (PA-Series hardware only). Panorama, Cloud NGFW, and Prisma® Access are not impacted by this vulnerability.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Heap-based Buffer Overflow
The product writes past the end of a buffer that was allocated on the heap.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Pre-design: Use a language or compiler that performs automatic bounds checking.
- Use an abstraction library to abstract away risky APIs. Not a complete solution.
- Use automatic buffer overflow detection mechanisms that are offered by certain compilers or compiler extensions. Examples include: the Microsoft Visual Studio /GS flag, Fedora/Red Hat FORTIFY_SOURCE GCC flag, StackGuard, and ProPolice, which provide various mechanisms including canary-based detection and range/index checking. D3-SFCV (Stack Frame Canary Validation) from D3FEND discusses canary-based detection in detail.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Third-party and government advisories
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-967325.htmlThird Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in Cloud NGFW
- 7.2 High severity
Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS Code Injection Exploited
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
Recent Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerabilities
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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