CVE-2017-15944: Vulnerability in PAN-OS and Panorama on Management Interface

What it is

Through the exploitation of a combination of unrelated vulnerabilities, and via the management interface of the device, an attacker could remotely execute code on PAN-OS or Panorama in the context of the highest privileged user. (Ref # PAN-61094 / PAN-80990 / PAN-80993 / PAN-80994 / CVE-2017-15944) PAN-OS and Panorama contains multiple vulnerabilities that, when exploited in conjunction could lead to remote code execution prior to authentication. This issue affects PAN-OS 6.1.18 and earlier, PAN-OS 7.0.18 and earlier, and PAN-OS 7.1.13 and earlier.

Workarounds

Palo Alto Networks has released content update 756 including vulnerability signatures #40483 and #40484 that can be used as an interim mitigation to protect PAN-OS devices until the device software is upgraded. Note that signatures 40483 and 40484 must be applied to a firewall rule securing traffic destined for the Management interface. This issue affects the management interface of the device and is strongly mitigated by following best practices for the isolation of management interfaces for security appliances. We recommend that the management interface be isolated and strictly limited only to security administration personnel through either network segmentation or using the IP access control list restriction feature within PAN-OS. An alternative mitigation includes the use of a Panorama central manager and disabling of http and https management on each of the vulnerable appliance, then use the Panorama context switching feature to remotely access the web interface of the device.

Exploitation

CISA lists this CVE as exploited in the wild since 18 Aug 2022.