Protect yourself against future threats.
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA256
===========================================================================
AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution
ESB-2021.2396
Cortex XDR Agent: Improper Control of User-Controlled File
Leads to Local Privilege Escalation (CVE-2021-3042)
15 July 2021
===========================================================================
AusCERT Security Bulletin Summary
---------------------------------
Product: Cortex XDR agent
Publisher: Palo Alto
Operating System: Windows
Impact/Access: Execute Arbitrary Code/Commands -- Existing Account
Increased Privileges -- Existing Account
Resolution: Patch/Upgrade
CVE Names: CVE-2021-3042
Original Bulletin:
https://securityadvisories.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2021-3042
- --------------------------BEGIN INCLUDED TEXT--------------------
Palo Alto Networks Security Advisories / CVE-2021-3042
CVE-2021-3042 Cortex XDR Agent: Improper Control of User-Controlled File Leads
to Local Privilege Escalation
047910
Severity 7.8 . HIGH
Attack Vector LOCAL
Attack Complexity LOW
Privileges Required LOW
User Interaction NONE
Scope UNCHANGED
Confidentiality Impact HIGH
Integrity Impact HIGH
Availability Impact HIGH
NVD JSON
Published 2021-07-14
Updated 2021-07-14
Reference CPATR-13407, CPATR-11790 and CPATR-11572
Discovered externally
Description
A local privilege escalation (PE) vulnerability exists in the Palo Alto
Networks Cortex XDR agent on Windows platforms that enables an authenticated
local Windows user to execute programs with SYSTEM privileges.
Exploiting this vulnerability requires the user to have file creation privilege
in the Windows root directory (such as C:\).
This issue impacts:
All versions of Cortex XDR agent 6.1 without content update 181 or a later
version;
All versions of Cortex XDR agent 7.2 without content update 181 or a later
version;
All versions of Cortex XDR agent 7.3 without content update 181 or a later
version.
Cortex XDR agent 5.0 versions are not impacted by this issue.
Content updates are required to resolve this issue and are automatically
applied for the agent.
Product Status
Versions Affected Unaffected
Cortex XDR 7.3.* without content update 181 7.3.* with content update 181
Agent 7.3 or later or later
Cortex XDR 7.2.* without content update 181 7.2.* with content update 181
Agent 7.2 or later or later
Cortex XDR 6.1.* without content update 181 6.1.* with content update 181
Agent 6.1 or later or later
Cortex XDR None all
Agent 5.0
Severity: HIGH
CVSSv3.1 Base Score: 7.8 (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)
Exploitation Status
Palo Alto Networks is not aware of any malicious exploitation of this issue.
Weakness Type
CWE-427 Uncontrolled Search Path Element
Solution
This issue is fixed in Cortex XDR agent 6.1, Cortex XDR agent 7.2, Cortex XDR
agent 7.3, and all later Cortex XDR agent versions with content update 181 or
later content updates.
Content updates are required to resolve this issue and are automatically
applied for the agent.
Workarounds and Mitigations
This issue is mitigated by preventing local authenticated Windows users from
creating files in the Windows root directory (such as C:\).
Acknowledgments
Palo Alto Networks thanks Xavier DANEST of Decathlon for discovering and
reporting this issue.
Timeline
2021-07-14 Initial publication
- --------------------------END INCLUDED TEXT--------------------
You have received this e-mail bulletin as a result of your organisation's
registration with AusCERT. The mailing list you are subscribed to is
maintained within your organisation, so if you do not wish to continue
receiving these bulletins you should contact your local IT manager. If
you do not know who that is, please send an email to auscert@auscert.org.au
and we will forward your request to the appropriate person.
NOTE: Third Party Rights
This security bulletin is provided as a service to AusCERT's members. As
AusCERT did not write the document quoted above, AusCERT has had no control
over its content. The decision to follow or act on information or advice
contained in this security bulletin is the responsibility of each user or
organisation, and should be considered in accordance with your organisation's
site policies and procedures. AusCERT takes no responsibility for consequences
which may arise from following or acting on information or advice contained in
this security bulletin.
NOTE: This is only the original release of the security bulletin. It may
not be updated when updates to the original are made. If downloading at
a later date, it is recommended that the bulletin is retrieved directly
from the author's website to ensure that the information is still current.
Contact information for the authors of the original document is included
in the Security Bulletin above. If you have any questions or need further
information, please contact them directly.
Previous advisories and external security bulletins can be retrieved from:
https://www.auscert.org.au/bulletins/
===========================================================================
Australian Computer Emergency Response Team
The University of Queensland
Brisbane
Qld 4072
Internet Email: auscert@auscert.org.au
Facsimile: (07) 3365 7031
Telephone: (07) 3365 4417 (International: +61 7 3365 4417)
AusCERT personnel answer during Queensland business hours
which are GMT+10:00 (AEST).
On call after hours for member emergencies only.
===========================================================================
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Comment: http://www.auscert.org.au/render.html?it=1967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=CHTU
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----