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 execut…

published 2017-12-11 8 y ago modified 2026-06-17 4 mo ago also EUVD-2017-7360

cvss: 9.8; version 3.1, CNA
cisa kev: Exploited; added 2022-08-18
epss: 98.3%; EPSS 98.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 99.9%
public exploits: 3; Metasploit, Exploit-DB, plus a Nuclei check

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.

Patch / fix

cisa required action Apply updates per vendor instructions.

fixed in 1

paloaltonetworks pan-os 6.1.19, 7.0.19, 7.1.14, 8.0.6

Timeline

2017-12-11 First public exploit (Metasploit exploit/linux/http/panos_readsessionvars)
2017-12-11 Published
2022-08-18 Added to CISA KEV
2022-09-08 CISA patch deadline
2025-02-07 CISA SSVC: exploitation active

Known exploited

Added: 4 y ago (2022-08-18)
Patch by: 2022-09-08 (4 y ago)
Ransomware: Not known
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Vendor, product: Palo Alto Networks, PAN-OS
CISA name: Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CISA SSVC

Exploitation: Active, exploited in the wild
Automatable: yes
Technical impact: total
Assessed: 21 mo ago (2025-02-07)

Exploit prediction

98.34% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.9% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).

Exploits and checks

Metasploit exploit/linux/http/panos_readsessionvars Palo Alto Networks readSessionVarsFromFile() Session Corruption metasploit exploit, excellent rank, 2017-12-11
EDB-44597 Palo Alto Networks - 'readSessionVarsFromFile()' Session Corruption (Metasploit) remote, 2018-05-08
EDB-43342 Palo Alto Networks Firewalls - Root Remote Code Execution remote, 2017-12-14
Nuclei template Palo Alto Network PAN-OS - Remote Code Execution nuclei detection template

CVSS scores

assigned by	version	score	vector
CISA ADP	3.1	9.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD	3.1	9.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA	3.1	9.8	CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD	2.0	7.5	AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

Classification

Weakness

CWE-20 Improper Input Validation
CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer

Technology feeds

Palo Alto PAN-OS rss critical rss

References

exploit-db.com /exploits/44597/
exploit, third-party-advisory, vdb-entry
exploit-db.com /exploits/43342/
exploit, third-party-advisory, vdb-entry
security.paloaltonetworks.com /CVE-2017-15944
vendor-advisory
securitytracker.com /id/1040007
vdb-entry, broken-link, third-party-advisory
securityfocus.com /bid/102079
vdb-entry, broken-link, third-party-advisory
cisa.gov /known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2017-15944
government-resource, us-government-resource

Sources

CVE List CVE-2017-15944
NVD CVE-2017-15944

Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.

Summary