Vulnerability · Published Jul 15, 2021 · Assigned by palo_alto

CVE-2021-3042Cortex XDR Agent: Improper Control of User-Controlled File Leads to Local Privilege Escalation

High 7.8

In plain English

A high-severity uncontrolled search path in Cortex XDR Agent from Palo Alto Networks. There are no confirmed reports of exploitation so far. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 0.2% (higher than 16% of all known vulnerabilities).

Severity (CVSS 3.1)7.8High

Exploit odds (30 days)0.2%top 83.8% of all CVEs

Exploited in the wildNo reportsnot in CISA KEV

Attack toolingNoneno public tooling known

Official description

A local privilege escalation (PE) vulnerability exists in the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR agent on Windows platforms that enables an authenticated local Windows user to execute programs with SYSTEM privileges. Exploiting this vulnerability requires the user to have file creation privilege in the Windows root directory (such as C:\). This issue impacts: All versions of Cortex XDR agent 6.1 without content update 181 or a later version; All versions of Cortex XDR agent 7.2 without content update 181 or a later version; All versions of Cortex XDR agent 7.3 without content update 181 or a later version. Cortex XDR agent 5.0 versions are not impacted by this issue. Content updates are required to resolve this issue and are automatically applied for the agent.

Affected products (as reported)

Vendor	Product	Versions
Palo Alto Networks	Cortex XDR Agent	see references
Palo Alto Networks	Cortex XDR Agent	6.1.* without content update 181 or later7.2.* without content update 181 or later
Palo Alto Networks	Cortex XDR Agent	7.3.* without content update 181 or later

Weakness: CWE-427 · Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

References

https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2021-3042 x_refsource_MISC