CVE-2017-15944
CVE-2017-15944 is a security flaw in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS, the operating system on Palo Alto Networks’ firewalls. Attackers can run their own code on Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 18 Aug 2022.[1]
Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Palo Alto Networks has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it a remote code execution in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS. In its words: “Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS contains multiple, unspecified vulnerabilities which can allow for remote code execution when chained.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS before 6.1.19, 7.0.x before 7.0.19, 7.1.x before 7.1.14, and 8.0.x before 8.0.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors involving the management interface.”[2]
The underlying weakness is improper input validation (CWE-20), memory buffer error (CWE-119), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 9.8 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it critical, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; Palo Alto Networks’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS.
Most families won’t have Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 18 Aug 2022, 1,711 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 8 Sep 2022 to fix it.[1]
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 98%. That’s in the top 1% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as automatable: attackers can run it against many targets at once.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Palo Alto Networks has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s required action: “Apply updates per vendor instructions.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 8 Sep 2022 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 9.8.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 98%.[4] |
See also
Other Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS flaws
- CVE-2026-0322: code injection ·
- CVE-2026-0257: authentication bypass ·
- CVE-2026-0300: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2025-0111: file read ·
- CVE-2025-0108: authentication bypass ·
- CVE-2024-3393: malicious DNS packet ·
Other Palo Alto Networks flaws
- CVE-2024-9465, Palo Alto Networks Expedition: SQL injection ·
- CVE-2024-9463, Palo Alto Networks Expedition: OS command injection ·
- CVE-2024-5910, Palo Alto Networks Expedition: missing authentication ·
Other improper input validation flaws
- CVE-2026-93952, Arista VeloCloud Orchestrator: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2019-1068, Microsoft SQL Server: remote code execution ·
- CVE-2026-12569, PTC Windchill and FlexPLM: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2026-34910, Ubiquiti UniFi OS: improper input validation ·
- CVE-2026-6973, Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM): improper input validation ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2022-32894, Apple iOS and macOS: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2022-32893, Apple iOS and macOS: out-of-bounds write ·
- CVE-2022-2856, Chrome and other Chromium browsers: insufficient input validation ·
- CVE-2022-26923, Microsoft Active Directory: domain services privilege escalation ·
- CVE-2022-22536, SAP products: HTTP request smuggling ·
Every Palo Alto Networks flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in August 2022
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS Remote Code Execution Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 18 Aug 2022.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2017-15944 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 11 Dec 2017.
- ^ Palo Alto Networks. Advisories and fixes: security.paloaltonetworks.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.983, percentile 99.9, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2017-15944”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.