Description
Multiple command injection vulnerabilities in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS® software enable an authenticated administrator to bypass system restrictions and run arbitrary commands as a root user. To be able to exploit this issue, the user must have access to the PAN-OS CLI or Web UI. The security risk posed by this issue is significantly minimized when CLI access is restricted to a limited group of administrators and by restricting access to the management web interface to only trusted internal IP addresses according to our recommended best practice deployment guidelines https://live.paloaltonetworks.com/t5/community-blogs/tips-amp-tricks-how-to-secure-the-management-access-of-your-palo/ba-p/464431 . This issue is applicable to PAN-OS software on PA-Series and VM-Series firewalls and on Panorama (virtual and M-Series). Cloud NGFW and Prisma Access® are not impacted by these vulnerabilities.
The risk is highest when you allow access to the management interface from external IP addresses on the internet.
You can reduce the risk of exploitation by restricting access to a jump box that is the only system allowed to access the management interface.
Problem types
CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Product status
All (custom)
12.1.0 (custom) before 12.1.7, 12.1.4-h5
11.2.0 (custom) before 11.2.12, 11.2.10-h6, 11.2.7-h13, 11.2.4-h17
11.1.0 (custom) before 11.1.15, 11.1.13-h5, 11.1.10-h25, 11.1.7-h6, 11.1.6-h32, 11.1.4-h33
10.2.0 (custom) before 10.2.18-h6, 10.2.16-h7, 10.2.13-h21, 10.2.10-h36, 10.2.7-h34
All (custom)
Timeline
| 2026-05-13: | Initial publication. |
Credits
Palo Alto Networks thanks our internal security research teams for discovering and reporting this issue.
References
security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2026-0261