Cortex XDR Agent: Improper control of loaded DLL leads to local privilege escalation
Priority LOW 34CWE-427Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-427.
Summary
A local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Agent on the Windows platform that allows an authenticated local Windows user to execute programs with SYSTEM privileges. This requires the user to have the privilege to create files in the Windows root directory. This issue impacts: All versions of Cortex XDR Agent 7.1 with content update 149 and earlier versions; All versions of Cortex XDR Agent 7.2 with content update 149 and earlier versions.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00345 28th percentileScored 2026-11-08
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto Networks | Cortex XDR Agent | all versions; all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| Palo Alto Networks | Cortex XDR Agent | — | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Cortex XDR Agent VendorPalo Alto Networks Affected all versions; all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- Cortex XDR Agent VendorPalo Alto Networks Affected — Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:cortex_xdr_agent:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1.1 – 7.1.3; 7.2.1 – 7.2.2 | Vulnerable | CyberArk Software, a Palo Alto Networks Company |
| cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:cortex_xdr_agent:7.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1 | Vulnerable | CyberArk Software, a Palo Alto Networks Company |
| cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:cortex_xdr_agent:7.1:content_update149:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1 content_update149 | Vulnerable | CyberArk Software, a Palo Alto Networks Company |
| cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:cortex_xdr_agent:7.2:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.2 | Vulnerable | CyberArk Software, a Palo Alto Networks Company |
| cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:cortex_xdr_agent:7.2:content_update149:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.2 content_update149 | Vulnerable | CyberArk Software, a Palo Alto Networks Company |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Microsoft |
- cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:cortex_xdr_agent:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1.1 – 7.1.3; 7.2.1 – 7.2.2 Vulnerable ·CyberArk Software, a Palo Alto Networks Company
- cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:cortex_xdr_agent:7.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 Vulnerable ·CyberArk Software, a Palo Alto Networks Company
- cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:cortex_xdr_agent:7.1:content_update149:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 content_update149 Vulnerable ·CyberArk Software, a Palo Alto Networks Company
- cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:cortex_xdr_agent:7.2:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.2 Vulnerable ·CyberArk Software, a Palo Alto Networks Company
- cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:cortex_xdr_agent:7.2:content_update149:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.2 content_update149 Vulnerable ·CyberArk Software, a Palo Alto Networks Company
- cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Microsoft
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-2049
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-pjv3-5grh-rmm4
References
More Palo Alto Networks vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-08782 Expedition: Unauthenticated OS Command Injection Vulnerability Leads to Firewall Credential Disclosure KEVCVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.9
- TI-2024-03172 PAN-OS: Arbitrary File Creation Leads to OS Command Injection Vulnerability in GlobalProtect KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2020-01936 PAN-OS: Authentication Bypass in SAML Authentication KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2017-11675 Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS before 6.1.19, 7.0.x before 7.0.19, 7.1.x before 7.1.14, and… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-00239 PAN-OS: Unauthenticated user initiated Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in User-ID™ Authentication Portal KEVCVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.3
- TI-2024-08784 Expedition: SQL Injection Leads to Firewall Admin Credential Disclosure KEVCVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.2
Sources
- CVE-2020-2049 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-2049 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-pjv3-5grh-rmm4 · 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