Cortex XSOAR: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
CVE-2026-0270 is a high-severity improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability in Cortex XSOAR from Palo Alto Networks, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited from the same local network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 8.13.0.11 as the first without the flaw, so updating Cortex XSOAR to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.2% 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 XSOAR to 8.13.0.11 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 XSOAR | 8.13 up to, but not including, 8.13.0.11; 8.12.0; 8.11.0; 8.10.0 | 8.13.0.11 |
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
- AdjacentThe attacker must be on the same local network segment.
- Attack complexity
- HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
- 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:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 4.8 | Medium | CNA (paloaltonetworks.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | NVD |
Official description
A path traversal vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR engine software running on Linux allows an unauthenticated attacker on an adjacent network, with the ability to intercept and manipulate network response traffic via a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack, to write arbitrary files to the host.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid.
- Use an application firewall that can detect attacks against this weakness. It can be beneficial in cases in which the code cannot be fixed (because it is controlled by a third party), as an emergency prevention measure while more comprehensive software assurance measures are applied, or to provide defense in depth.
More Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities (CWE-22)
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
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2007-4559Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource
Other vulnerabilities in Cortex XSOAR
- 9.1 Critical severity
Recent Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.7 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.