CVE-2021-3033Network attack vector

Unauthorized access via SAML signature bypass

Published Feb 10, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Authentication bypass in Prisma Cloud Compute 19.11 and 20.04–20.12 before fixes allows remote attackers to access any authorized SAML user account. The console accepts a SAML authentication response without properly verifying its cryptographic signature, allowing signature-validation bypass during login. Exposure requires SAML authentication; successful access reaches the privileges of the targeted authorized user, with confidentiality and integrity impact but no reported availability impact.

CVSS severity9.1
Critical
EPSS probability1.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in Prisma Cloud Compute 19.11 and 20.04–20.12 before fixes allows remote attackers to access any authorized SAML user account. The console accepts a SAML authentication response without properly verifying its cryptographic signature, allowing signature-validation bypass during login. Exposure requires SAML authentication; successful access reaches the privileges of the targeted authorized user, with confidentiality and integrity impact but no reported availability impact.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-3033
Published
Feb 10, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Palo Alto Networks
Product
Prisma Cloud Compute Edition
Classifications
CWE-347, T1606.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 10, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 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=19.11 <=update 2
  2. Affected versionversion=20.04 <=update 2
  3. Affected versionversion=20.09 <=update 2
  4. Affected versionversion=20.12 <update 1 changes=[{"at":"update 1","status":"unaffected"}]

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Palo Alto Networks · Prisma Cloud Compute Editionversion=19.11 <=update 2; version=20.04 <=update 2; version=20.09 <=update 2; version=20.12 <update 1 changes=[{"at":"update 1","status":"unaffected"}]

Published CVSS scores

9.1Palo Alto NetworksCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-347Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature
T1606.002Forge Web Credentials: SAML Tokens

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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