CVE-2026-0261Network attack vector

Authenticated root command execution via undisclosed input handling

Published May 13, 2026 · Updated May 13, 2026

OS command injection in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS allows remote authenticated users with administrator access to execute commands as root. Palo Alto Networks has not disclosed the affected CLI or Web UI handlers or how they pass attacker-controlled input to an operating-system command. Exploitation requires PAN-OS administrator access to the CLI or management Web UI and grants unrestricted root-level command execution.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability1.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

OS command injection in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS allows remote authenticated users with administrator access to execute commands as root. Palo Alto Networks has not disclosed the affected CLI or Web UI handlers or how they pass attacker-controlled input to an operating-system command. Exploitation requires PAN-OS administrator access to the CLI or management Web UI and grants unrestricted root-level command execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-0261
Published
May 13, 2026
Updated
May 13, 2026
Vendor
Palo Alto Networks
Product
PAN-OS
Classifications
CWE-78, CAPEC-88, T1059, T1068
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

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

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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=10.2.0 <10.2.18-h6, 10.2.16-h7, 10.2.13-h21, 10.2.10-h36, 10.2.7-h34 changes=[{"at":"10.2.18-h6","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"10.2.16-h7","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"10.2.13-h21","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"10.2.10-h36","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"10.2.7-h34","status":"unaffected"}]
  2. Affected versionversion=11.1.0 <11.1.15, 11.1.13-h5, 11.1.10-h25, 11.1.7-h6, 11.1.6-h32, 11.1.4-h33 changes=[{"at":"11.1.15","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"11.1.13-h5","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"11.1.10-h25","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"11.1.7-h6","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"11.1.6-h32","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"11.1.4-h33","status":"unaffected"}]
  3. Affected versionversion=11.2.0 <11.2.12, 11.2.10-h6, 11.2.7-h13, 11.2.4-h17 changes=[{"at":"11.2.12","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"11.2.10-h6","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"11.2.7-h13","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"11.2.4-h17","status":"unaffected"}]
  4. Affected versionversion=12.1.0 <12.1.7, 12.1.4-h5 changes=[{"at":"12.1.7","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"12.1.4-h5","status":"unaffected"}]

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Palo Alto Networks · PAN-OSversion=10.2.0 <10.2.18-h6, 10.2.16-h7, 10.2.13-h21, 10.2.10-h36, 10.2.7-h34 changes=[{"at":"10.2.18-h6","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"10.2.16-h7","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"10.2.13-h21","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"10.2.10-h36","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"10.2.7-h34","status":"unaffected"}]; version=11.1.0 <11.1.15, 11.1.13-h5, 11.1.10-h25, 11.1.7-h6, 11.1.6-h32, 11.1.4-h33 changes=[{"at":"11.1.15","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"11.1.13-h5","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"11.1.10-h25","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"11.1.7-h6","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"11.1.6-h32","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"11.1.4-h33","status":"unaffected"}]; version=11.2.0 <11.2.12, 11.2.10-h6, 11.2.7-h13, 11.2.4-h17 changes=[{"at":"11.2.12","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"11.2.10-h6","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"11.2.7-h13","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"11.2.4-h17","status":"unaffected"}]; version=12.1.0 <12.1.7, 12.1.4-h5 changes=[{"at":"12.1.7","status":"unaffected"},{"at":"12.1.4-h5","status":"unaffected"}]

Published CVSS scores

7.2NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.1Palo Alto NetworksCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
CAPEC-88OS Command Injection
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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