PAN-OS: Authentication bypass vulnerability in GlobalProtect SSL VPN client certificate verification
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · Low · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-285.
Summary
An authentication bypass vulnerability exists in the GlobalProtect SSL VPN component of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software that allows an attacker to bypass all client certificate checks with an invalid certificate. A remote attacker can successfully authenticate as any user and gain access to restricted VPN network resources when the gateway or portal is configured to rely entirely on certificate-based authentication. Impacted features that use SSL VPN with client certificate verification are: GlobalProtect Gateway, GlobalProtect Portal, GlobalProtect Clientless VPN In configurations where client certificate verification is used in conjunction with other authentication methods, the protections added by the certificate check are ignored as a result of this issue. This issue impacts: PAN-OS 8.1 versions earlier than PAN-OS 8.1.17; PAN-OS 9.0 versions earlier than PAN-OS 9.0.11; PAN-OS 9.1 versions earlier than PAN-OS 9.1.5; PAN-OS 10.0 versions earlier than PAN-OS 10.0.1.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto Networks | PAN-OS | 8.1 to before 8.1.17; 9.0 to before 9.0.11; 9.1 to before 9.1.5; 10.0 to before 10.0.1 | 8.1.17, 9.0.11, 9.1.5, 10.0.1 | Patch available | CNA |
- PAN-OS VendorPalo Alto Networks Affected 8.1 to before 8.1.17; 9.0 to before 9.0.11; 9.1 to before 9.1.5; 10.0 to before 10.0.1 Fixed in 8.1.17, 9.0.11, 9.1.5, 10.0.1 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:paloaltonetworks:pan-os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.1.0 to before 8.1.17; 9.0.0 to before 9.0.11; 9.1.0 to before 9.1.5; 10.0.0 to before 10.0.1 | Vulnerable | CyberArk Software, a Palo Alto Networks Company |
- cpe:2.3:o:paloaltonetworks:pan-os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.1.0 to before 8.1.17; 9.0.0 to before 9.0.11; 9.1.0 to before 9.1.5; 10.0.0 to before 10.0.1 Vulnerable ·CyberArk Software, a Palo Alto Networks Company
Remediation
- Fix · CNA PAN-OS (Palo Alto Networks) Fixed in 8.1.17, 9.0.11, 9.1.5, 10.0.1
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-2050
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-cgjw-gjmx-29p4
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-2020-2050 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-2050 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-cgjw-gjmx-29p4 · 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