CVE-2021-3062Network attack vector

Authenticated AWS role operations via metadata endpoint

Published Nov 10, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Improper access control in PAN-OS VM-Series firewalls allows remote authenticated users to access AWS EC2 role capabilities via GlobalProtect. GlobalProtect portal and gateway handling permits a connection to the instance metadata endpoint; Palo Alto Networks has not disclosed the responsible code path or missing authorization check. Exposure requires an AWS-hosted VM-Series firewall with a GlobalProtect portal or gateway enabled, and resulting actions are limited to those permitted by the attached EC2 role.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability0.72%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in PAN-OS VM-Series firewalls allows remote authenticated users to access AWS EC2 role capabilities via GlobalProtect. GlobalProtect portal and gateway handling permits a connection to the instance metadata endpoint; Palo Alto Networks has not disclosed the responsible code path or missing authorization check. Exposure requires an AWS-hosted VM-Series firewall with a GlobalProtect portal or gateway enabled, and resulting actions are limited to those permitted by the attached EC2 role.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-3062
Published
Nov 10, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Palo Alto Networks
Product
PAN-OS
Classifications
CWE-284, T1552.005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 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=10.0 <10.0.8 changes=[{"at":"10.0.8","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 <9.1.11 changes=[{"at":"9.1.11","status":"unaffected"}]

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Palo Alto Networks · PAN-OSversion=10.0 <10.0.8 changes=[{"at":"10.0.8","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 <9.1.11 changes=[{"at":"9.1.11","status":"unaffected"}]

Published CVSS scores

8.1Palo Alto NetworksCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
6.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
8.8NIST NVDCVSS: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-284Improper Access Control
T1552.005Unsecured Credentials: Cloud Instance Metadata API

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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