CVE-2020-2015Network attack vector

Authenticated root code execution via buffer overflow

Published May 13, 2020 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Buffer overflow in the PAN-OS management server allows remote authenticated users to crash processes or execute code as root. Palo Alto Networks has not disclosed the affected request handler, input field, or memory-copy operation that mishandles untrusted data. Access to the management interface and valid credentials are required; exploitation causes a service interruption or full appliance compromise.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.91%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Buffer overflow in the PAN-OS management server allows remote authenticated users to crash processes or execute code as root. Palo Alto Networks has not disclosed the affected request handler, input field, or memory-copy operation that mishandles untrusted data. Access to the management interface and valid credentials are required; exploitation causes a service interruption or full appliance compromise.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-2015
Published
May 13, 2020
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Palo Alto Networks
Product
PAN-OS
Classifications
CWE-120, T1068, T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 13, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=7.1 <7.1.26 changes=[{"at":"7.1.26","status":"unaffected"}]
  2. Affected versionversion=8.0.*
  3. Affected versionversion=8.1 <8.1.13 changes=[{"at":"8.1.13","status":"unaffected"}]
  4. Affected versionversion=9.0 <9.0.7 changes=[{"at":"9.0.7","status":"unaffected"}]
  5. Affected versionversion=9.1 <9.1.1 changes=[{"at":"9.1.1","status":"unaffected"}]

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Palo Alto Networks · PAN-OSversion=7.1 <7.1.26 changes=[{"at":"7.1.26","status":"unaffected"}]; version=8.0.*; version=8.1 <8.1.13 changes=[{"at":"8.1.13","status":"unaffected"}]; version=9.0 <9.0.7 changes=[{"at":"9.0.7","status":"unaffected"}]; version=9.1 <9.1.1 changes=[{"at":"9.1.1","status":"unaffected"}]

Published CVSS scores

8.8Palo Alto NetworksCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Overflow
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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