CVE-2024-0012
CVE-2024-0012 is a security flaw in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS, the operating system on Palo Alto Networks’ firewalls. Attackers can use Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS to take full control of the machine from anywhere, without logging in. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 18 Nov 2024, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[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. Fixed in version 11.2.4-h1, 11.1.5-h1, 11.0.6-h1 and 10.2.12-h2 of PAN-OS.
Description
CISA calls it a management interface authentication bypass in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS. In its words: “Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS contains an authentication bypass vulnerability in the web-based management interface for several PAN-OS products, including firewalls and VPN concentrators.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “An authentication bypass in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software enables an unauthenticated attacker with network access to the management web interface to gain PAN-OS administrator privileges to perform administrative actions, tamper with the configuration, or exploit other authenticated privilege escalation vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-9474 https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2024-9474 . The risk of this issue is greatly reduced if you secure access to the management web interface by restricting access to only trusted internal IP addresses according to our recommended best practice deployment guidelines https://live.paloaltonetworks.com/t5/community-blogs/tips-amp-tricks-how-to-secure-the-management-access-of-your-palo/ba-p/464431 . This issue is applicable only to PAN-OS 10.2, PAN-OS 11.0, PAN-OS 11.1, and PAN-OS 11.2 software. Cloud NGFW and Prisma…”[2]
The underlying weakness is missing authentication (CWE-306), 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 lists these fixed versions: in each line, everything before the version shown is affected.[2]
| Product | Fixed in |
|---|---|
| PAN-OS | 11.2.4-h1 |
| PAN-OS | 11.1.5-h1 |
| PAN-OS | 11.0.6-h1 |
| PAN-OS | 10.2.12-h2 |
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 Nov 2024, within a day of it being made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 9 Dec 2024 to fix it.[1] CISA says ransomware gangs have used it.
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 over 99%. 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 mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.”[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 (fixed in version 11.2.4-h1, 11.1.5-h1, 11.0.6-h1 and 10.2.12-h2 of PAN-OS), or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 9 Dec 2024 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, noting that ransomware gangs have used it.[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 over 99%.[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 missing authentication flaws
- CVE-2026-111357, Ivanti Connect Secure: missing authentication for critical function ·
- CVE-2026-67277, MikroTik RouterOS: missing authentication for critical function ·
- CVE-2026-81578, PaperCut NG/MF: missing authentication for critical function ·
- CVE-2026-72529, TrueConf Server: missing authentication for critical function ·
- CVE-2026-56164, Microsoft SharePoint Server: missing authentication for critical function ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2024-9474, Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS: management interface OS command injection ·
- CVE-2024-1212, Progress Kemp LoadMaster: OS command injection ·
Every Palo Alto Networks flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in November 2024
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS Management Interface Authentication Bypass Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 18 Nov 2024.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2024-0012 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 18 Nov 2024.
- ^ Palo Alto Networks. Advisories and fixes: security.paloaltonetworks.com, unit42.paloaltonetworks.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.998, percentile 100.0, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2024-0012”. 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.