Local SYSTEM privilege escalation via race condition
Published Apr 11, 2025 · Updated May 2, 2025
Incorrect privilege management in Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect App for Windows allows local users to gain NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM privileges. Palo Alto Networks identifies a race condition in the privilege-management mechanism but has not disclosed the affected component or unsafe operation. A locally authenticated non-administrative user or locally executing malware must win the race; no special configuration is required.
Summary
What happened
Incorrect privilege management in Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect App for Windows allows local users to gain NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM privileges. Palo Alto Networks identifies a race condition in the privilege-management mechanism but has not disclosed the affected component or unsafe operation. A locally authenticated non-administrative user or locally executing malware must win the race; no special configuration is required.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-0120
- Published
- Apr 11, 2025
- Updated
- May 2, 2025
- Vendor
- Palo Alto Networks
- Product
- GlobalProtect App
- Classifications
- CWE-250, CAPEC-233, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 11, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 2, 2025Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=6.0.0
- Affected versionversion=6.1.0
- Affected versionversion=6.2.0 <6.2.8 changes=[{"at":"6.2.8","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"6.2.7-1077","status":"unaffected"}]
- Affected versionversion=6.3.0 <6.3.3 changes=[{"at":"6.3.3","status":"unaffected"}]
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
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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