Pulse Secure Client 9.0R1 and 5.3RX before 5.3R5, when configured to authenticate VPN…
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Physical
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-287.
Summary
Pulse Secure Client 9.0R1 and 5.3RX before 5.3R5, when configured to authenticate VPN users during Windows Logon, can allow attackers to bypass Windows authentication and execute commands on the system with the privileges of Pulse Secure Client. The attacker must interrupt the client's network connectivity, and trigger a connection to a crafted proxy server with an invalid SSL certificate that allows certification-manager access, leading to the ability to browse local files and execute local programs.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 9
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop:5.3r1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.3r1.0 | Vulnerable | Pulse Secure |
| cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop:5.3r1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.3r1.1 | Vulnerable | Pulse Secure |
| cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop:5.3r2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.3r2.0 | Vulnerable | Pulse Secure |
| cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop:5.3r3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.3r3.0 | Vulnerable | Pulse Secure |
| cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop:5.3r4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.3r4.0 | Vulnerable | Pulse Secure |
| cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop:5.3r4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.3r4.1 | Vulnerable | Pulse Secure |
| cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop:5.3r4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.3r4.2 | Vulnerable | Pulse Secure |
| cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop:5.3rx:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.3rx | Vulnerable | Pulse Secure |
| cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop:9.0r1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.0r1.0 | Vulnerable | Pulse Secure |
- cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop:5.3r1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.3r1.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
- cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop:5.3r1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.3r1.1 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
- cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop:5.3r2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.3r2.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
- cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop:5.3r3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.3r3.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
- cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop:5.3r4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.3r4.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
- cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop:5.3r4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.3r4.1 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
- cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop:5.3r4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.3r4.2 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
- cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop:5.3rx:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.3rx Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
- cpe:2.3:a:pulsesecure:pulse_secure_desktop:9.0r1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0r1.0 Vulnerable ·Pulse Secure
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-7572
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-432f-98h9-v2fw
References
More Pulse Secure Desktop vulnerabilities
- TI-2016-02163 Pulse Secure Desktop before 5.2R2 and Pulse Secure Installer Service before 8.2R2 and… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.8
- TI-2020-07190 Pulse Secure Desktop Client 9.0Rx before 9.0R5 and 9.1Rx before 9.1R4 on Windows reveals… CVSS 3.1LOW 3.3
Sources
- CVE-2018-7572 · CVE Program
- CVE-2018-7572 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-432f-98h9-v2fw · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences