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2025-02-28
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Palo Alto Networks recently issued a warning about an escalating cyber threat targeting PAN-OS firewalls. Attackers have been exploiting a critical vulnerability (CVE-2025-0111) alongside two other vulnerabilities (CVE-2025-0108 and CVE-2024-9474) to compromise firewall systems. These vulnerabilities, which affect the management web interface of PAN-OS, allow threat actors to bypass authentication, read sensitive files, and potentially gain elevated privileges. The issue has been flagged as actively exploited, and cybersecurity firms are urging organizations to patch their systems immediately.
Summary:
Palo Alto Networks has identified a series of vulnerabilities in PAN-OS firewalls that are being actively exploited by attackers.
– CVE-2025-0111 is a file read vulnerability that allows an authenticated attacker with network access to read files.
– CVE-2025-0108 enables unauthenticated attackers to bypass the PAN-OS management web interface’s authentication, compromising the integrity of the firewall.
– CVE-2024-9474 is a privilege escalation vulnerability that could allow attackers to escalate privileges to root level.
These vulnerabilities have been chained together by cybercriminals, making the attack more dangerous.
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and other security organizations have confirmed active exploitation of these flaws.
To mitigate the risk, organizations are advised to restrict access to the PAN-OS web interface and immediately update to the latest versions of PAN-OS.
What Undercode Say:
The exploitation of multiple vulnerabilities in PAN-OS firewalls is a significant concern for organizations using Palo Alto Networks’ security solutions. As noted, the vulnerabilities CVE-2025-0111, CVE-2025-0108, and CVE-2024-9474 are being chained together by attackers to compromise the firewall systems.
CVE-2025-0111: File Read Issue
This vulnerability involves an authenticated attacker being able to read files that would typically be restricted to the “nobody” user. While this may seem like a limited risk at first glance, it opens the door for attackers to gather sensitive configuration data, which could aid in further exploitation of the system. The fact that this flaw was disclosed in early February 2025 and was later updated to indicate active exploitation reflects the urgency with which these vulnerabilities need to be addressed.
CVE-2025-0108: Authentication Bypass
One of the most critical vulnerabilities in this chain, CVE-2025-0108, allows attackers to bypass the authentication system of the PAN-OS web interface. This could enable them to invoke specific PHP scripts and interact with the system without proper credentials. While this flaw alone may not allow full remote code execution, it can still lead to substantial damage, such as compromising system integrity and confidentiality. The real danger here arises when attackers chain this flaw with other vulnerabilities to gain full access to the system. This issue is especially problematic for organizations that expose their management interfaces to the internet, making them prime targets for cybercriminals.
CVE-2024-9474: Privilege Escalation
CVE-2024-9474 is a privilege escalation vulnerability that could allow attackers to perform privileged operations on a compromised firewall system. Once attackers gain access to the management interface, this flaw gives them the ability to escalate their privileges to root level, effectively granting them full control over the device. The severity of this vulnerability is evident from the fact that CISA included it in its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, indicating its widespread exploitation.
The Risk Landscape
Palo Alto
Given the sophisticated nature of this attack, organizations should not only rely on patching but also continuously monitor for signs of compromise. The risk is amplified by the fact that these vulnerabilities can be chained together, giving attackers a wider range of options to exploit affected systems. For maximum protection, it’s crucial to implement a layered security strategy that includes restricting access, applying patches immediately, and maintaining robust monitoring systems.
Fact Checker Results:
- Palo Alto Networks confirmed the exploitation of these vulnerabilities, with CVE-2025-0108 being particularly active.
- The vulnerabilities affect the management web interface, with access control bypasses allowing attackers to execute unauthorized scripts.
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References:
Reported By: https://securityaffairs.com/174409/hacking/palo-alto-networks-cve-2025-0111-actively-exploited.html
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