CVE-2021-3054 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A detailed analysis of a time-of-check to time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS web interface that allows authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary code with root user privileges through plugin uploads.

Understanding CVE-2021-3054

This CVE discloses a security flaw in PAN-OS versions that exposes systems to potential code execution threats.

What is CVE-2021-3054?

The vulnerability in PAN-OS web interface facilitates a race condition that permits authenticated users to upload plugins and run code with elevated privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2021-3054

With a CVSS base score of 7.2, this high-severity issue poses a serious threat to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-3054

This section covers the specific details regarding the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The TOCTOU race condition in PAN-OS versions before 8.1.20, 9.0.14, 9.1.11, 10.0.7, and 10.1.2 enables unauthorized code execution with root privileges.

Affected Systems and Versions

PAN-OS 8.1, 9.0, 9.1, 10.0, and 10.1 versions earlier than the mentioned fixed versions are impacted.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows authenticated administrators to exploit the race condition while uploading plugins, granting them root-level access.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover the necessary steps to mitigate the vulnerability and secure your systems.

Immediate Steps to Take

To protect against this threat, ensure authenticated access control and follow best practices for securing the PAN-OS web interface.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement comprehensive security measures, ongoing monitoring, and timely updates to safeguard against potential exploits.

Patching and Updates

Upgrade to patched versions PAN-OS 8.1.20, 9.0.14, 9.1.11, 10.0.7, 10.1.2, or later releases to eliminate this vulnerability.