CVE-2026-0264Network attack vector

Unauthenticated code execution via DNS heap overflow

Published May 13, 2026 · Updated May 13, 2026

Heap-based buffer overflow in PAN-OS allows remote attackers to crash firewalls or execute code via crafted DNS traffic. The DNS Proxy and DNS Server traffic-processing paths write crafted network data beyond a heap buffer; the responsible parser or copy operation is undisclosed. Exposure requires DNS Proxy on an attached interface or a compromised public DNS server; all affected platforms can crash, while code execution is limited to PA-Series hardware.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.47%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap-based buffer overflow in PAN-OS allows remote attackers to crash firewalls or execute code via crafted DNS traffic. The DNS Proxy and DNS Server traffic-processing paths write crafted network data beyond a heap buffer; the responsible parser or copy operation is undisclosed. Exposure requires DNS Proxy on an attached interface or a compromised public DNS server; all affected platforms can crash, while code execution is limited to PA-Series hardware.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-0264
Published
May 13, 2026
Updated
May 13, 2026
Vendor
Palo Alto Networks
Product
PAN-OS
Classifications
CWE-122, CAPEC-100, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

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

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

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

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.7Palo Alto NetworksCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
9.2Palo Alto NetworksCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:L/SI:L/SA: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.

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-122Heap-based Buffer Overflow
CAPEC-100Overflow Buffers
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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