CVE-2020-2028Network attack vector

Root command execution via certificate upload

Published Jun 10, 2020 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

OS command injection in the PAN-OS management server allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary operating-system commands as root. The certificate-upload verification path in FIPS-CC mode passes untrusted certificate data to an operating-system command, although the specific field and invocation are undisclosed. Exploitation requires administrator authentication, FIPS-CC mode, and a new-certificate upload on an affected release.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability1.78%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

OS command injection in the PAN-OS management server allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary operating-system commands as root. The certificate-upload verification path in FIPS-CC mode passes untrusted certificate data to an operating-system command, although the specific field and invocation are undisclosed. Exploitation requires administrator authentication, FIPS-CC mode, and a new-certificate upload on an affected release.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-2028
Published
Jun 10, 2020
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Palo Alto Networks
Product
PAN-OS
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 10, 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

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=7.1.*
  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"}]

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Palo Alto Networks · PAN-OSversion=7.1.*; 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"}]

Published CVSS scores

7.2Palo Alto NetworksCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

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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