Palo Alto PAN-OS firewalls: attacker with login can run code as root
Someone who already has a login to the firewall's management page could run their own commands with full control of the device. Because the firewall guards your network, that control could let them reach or change everything behind it.
| Severity | CriticalCVSS 8.6 of 10 |
|---|---|
| Being exploited? | YesConfirmed by CISA KEV · 14 Oct 2026 |
| Fix available? | PartlyNot for every affected version · since 25 Oct 2026 |
| How sure is this? | Official, 2 sourcesBacked by an official source |
How the attack works simplified
- 1Attacker with loginNeeds valid authenticated access first
- 2Reaches management interfaceVia network access to the firewall
- 3Injects malicious codeCode injection in management interface
- 4Runs as rootArbitrary commands with root privileges
- ResultAttacker controls the firewall
What happened
A remote code execution flaw in the management interface of PAN-OS lets an authenticated user with network access execute arbitrary code with root privileges. It affects PA-Series and VM-Series firewalls and Panorama (virtual and M-Series).
Are you affected?
You are affected if you run PAN-OS on PA-Series or VM-Series firewalls or on Panorama (virtual or M-Series). Cloud NGFW and Prisma Access are not impacted.
PAN-OS software on PA-Series and VM-Series firewalls; Panorama (virtual and M-Series). Specific affected versions: unknown.
What to do
- Restrict management interface access to trusted internal IP addresses only, following Palo Alto's best-practice guidance
- Apply the mitigations and patches from Palo Alto Networks' vendor advisory
- Check whether each device's management interface is exposed to the internet and prioritize those devices
- Follow CISA BOD 26-04 and its Forensics Triage Requirements if you suspect compromise
Timeline
- 14 Oct 2026, 00:00 UTCPublicly disclosed
- 14 Oct 2026, 00:00 UTCReported by CISA KEV · CISA KEV
- 25 Oct 2026, 15:21 UTCA fix was published
- 25 Oct 2026, 17:35 UTCGitHub Advisory reported on it · GitHub Advisory
Sources 2 reports, oldest first
Official vendor, government CERT or advisory database
- CISA KEV14 Oct 2026, 00:00 UTC
- A remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability in the management interface of Palo Alto Networks PAN...GitHub Advisory · 14 Oct 2026, 18:32 UTC
Technical details
- ID
- CVE-2026-0322 · GHSA-9fh3-97mp-7wmv
- CVSS
- 8.6 / 10
- EPSS
- 1.7% chance of exploitation within 30 days
- Disclosed
- 14 Oct 2026, 00:00 UTC
- On Zero Radar
- before the radar started
- Last change
- 25 Oct 2026, 17:35 UTC
The plain-language parts and the attack diagram were written by an AI model (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5) from the sources above. Facts like versions, exploitation and dates come from the sources themselves. How Zero Radar works