CVE-2021-3052Network attack vector

Authenticated administrator actions via reflected web content

Published Sep 8, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Reflected XSS in affected Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS 8.1, 9.0, 9.1, and 10.0 releases allows remote authenticated users to act as administrators. The web interface reflects content supplied through a specially crafted link into the targeted administrator's browser, while the affected parameter and rendering path remain undisclosed. Exploitation requires web-interface authentication and a second authenticated administrator to click the link, after which actions run with that administrator's privileges.

CVSS severity8.0
High
EPSS probability0.63%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Reflected XSS in affected Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS 8.1, 9.0, 9.1, and 10.0 releases allows remote authenticated users to act as administrators. The web interface reflects content supplied through a specially crafted link into the targeted administrator's browser, while the affected parameter and rendering path remain undisclosed. Exploitation requires web-interface authentication and a second authenticated administrator to click the link, after which actions run with that administrator's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-3052
Published
Sep 8, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Palo Alto Networks
Product
PAN-OS
Classifications
CWE-79, T1204.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 8, 2021CVE 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=10.0 <10.0.2 changes=[{"at":"10.0.2","status":"unaffected"}]
  2. Affected versionversion=8.1 <8.1.20 changes=[{"at":"8.1.20","status":"unaffected"}]
  3. Affected versionversion=9.0 <9.0.14 changes=[{"at":"9.0.14","status":"unaffected"}]
  4. Affected versionversion=9.1 <9.1.10 changes=[{"at":"9.1.10","status":"unaffected"}]

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Palo Alto Networks · PAN-OSversion=10.0 <10.0.2 changes=[{"at":"10.0.2","status":"unaffected"}]; version=8.1 <8.1.20 changes=[{"at":"8.1.20","status":"unaffected"}]; version=9.0 <9.0.14 changes=[{"at":"9.0.14","status":"unaffected"}]; version=9.1 <9.1.10 changes=[{"at":"9.1.10","status":"unaffected"}]

Published CVSS scores

6.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
8.0Palo Alto NetworksCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
3.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:N/I:P/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.

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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-79Cross-site Scripting (XSS)
T1204.001User Execution: Malicious Link

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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