CVE-2026-0251

Local privilege escalation via untrusted search paths

Published May 13, 2026 · Updated May 13, 2026

Untrusted search path flaws in Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect App allow local users to execute commands as SYSTEM or root. The vendor maps the issues to CWE-426 but has not disclosed the affected executable, searched location, or unsafe lookup operation. Any non-administrative local user can reach the flaws without special configuration, gaining full administrative command execution on the affected endpoint.

CVSS severity8.5
High
EPSS probability0.15%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Untrusted search path flaws in Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect App allow local users to execute commands as SYSTEM or root. The vendor maps the issues to CWE-426 but has not disclosed the affected executable, searched location, or unsafe lookup operation. Any non-administrative local user can reach the flaws without special configuration, gaining full administrative command execution on the affected endpoint.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-0251
Published
May 13, 2026
Updated
May 13, 2026
Vendor
Palo Alto Networks
Product
GlobalProtect App
Classifications
CWE-426, CAPEC-233, T1574
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 13, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=6.0.0 <6.0.11 changes=[{"at":"6.0.11","status":"unaffected"}]
  2. Affected versionversion=6.0.0 <6.0.13 changes=[{"at":"6.0.13","status":"unaffected"}]
  3. Affected versionversion=6.2.0 <6.2.8-h10 (6.2.8-948) changes=[{"at":"6.2.8-h10 (6.2.8-948)","status":"unaffected"}]
  4. Affected versionversion=6.3.0 <6.3.3-h2 (6.3.3-42) changes=[{"at":"6.3.3-h2 (6.3.3-42)","status":"unaffected"}]
  5. Affected versionversion=6.3.0 <6.3.3-h9 (6.3.3-999) changes=[{"at":"6.3.3-h9 (6.3.3-999)","status":"unaffected"}]

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Palo Alto Networks · GlobalProtect Appversion=6.0.0 <6.0.11 changes=[{"at":"6.0.11","status":"unaffected"}]; version=6.0.0 <6.0.13 changes=[{"at":"6.0.13","status":"unaffected"}]; version=6.2.0 <6.2.8-h10 (6.2.8-948) changes=[{"at":"6.2.8-h10 (6.2.8-948)","status":"unaffected"}]; version=6.3.0 <6.3.3-h2 (6.3.3-42) changes=[{"at":"6.3.3-h2 (6.3.3-42)","status":"unaffected"}]; version=6.3.0 <6.3.3-h9 (6.3.3-999) changes=[{"at":"6.3.3-h9 (6.3.3-999)","status":"unaffected"}]

Published CVSS scores

8.5Palo Alto NetworksCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
5.9Palo Alto NetworksCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-426Untrusted Search Path
CAPEC-233Privilege Escalation
T1574Hijack Execution Flow

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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