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CVE Record

CVE-2020-1978: VM-Series on Microsoft Azure: Inadvertent collection of credentials in Tech support files on HA configured VMs

TechSupport files generated on Palo Alto Networks VM Series firewalls for Microsoft Azure platform configured with high availability (HA) inadvertently collect Azure dashboard service account credentials. These credentials are equivalent to the credentials associated with the Contributor role in Azure. A user with the credentials will be able to manage all the Azure resources in the subscription except for granting access to other resources. These credentials do not allow login access to the VMs themselves. This issue affects VM Series Plugin versions before 1.0.9 for PAN-OS 9.0. This issue does not affect VM Series in non-HA configurations or on other cloud platforms. It does not affect hardware firewall appliances. Since becoming aware of the issue, Palo Alto Networks has safely deleted all the tech support files with the credentials. We now filter and remove these credentials from all TechSupport files sent to us. The TechSupport files uploaded to Palo Alto Networks systems were only accessible by authorized personnel with valid Palo Alto Networks credentials. We do not have any evidence of malicious access or use of these credentials.

MediumCVSS 5.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2020-1978 is a credential exposure issue in Palo Alto Networks VM-Series firewalls on Microsoft Azure when configured for high availability. Generated TechSupport files could include Azure dashboard service account credentials with Contributor-level resource management rights. Palo Alto Networks says uploaded files were deleted, filtering was added, and it found no evidence of malicious access or use.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted cloud credential exposure issue, not a broad firewall compromise. Prioritize organizations using Azure HA VM-Series deployments because exposed credentials carried Contributor-level Azure resource management capability. Urgency is moderate unless retained support bundles were broadly accessible.

Technical view

Affected VM-Series Plugin versions before 1.0.9 for PAN-OS 9.0 on Azure HA could include Azure dashboard service account credentials in TechSupport bundles. The credentials could manage Azure subscription resources except access grants and did not allow VM login. Non-HA Azure deployments, other cloud platforms, and hardware appliances are stated as unaffected.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Palo Alto Networks VM-Series firewalls on Microsoft Azure, running PAN-OS 9.0 with VM-Series Plugin before 1.0.9, and configured for HA. Risk depends on whether TechSupport files were generated, uploaded, or retained during the affected period.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not cite active exploitation, KEV listing, public exploit activity, or malicious credential use. Palo Alto Networks states it had no evidence of malicious access or use and that uploaded TechSupport files were only accessible to authorized Palo Alto Networks personnel.

Researcher notes

Key scope constraints are important: Azure only, HA only, PAN-OS 9.0 VM-Series Plugin before 1.0.9, no VM login from exposed credentials, and no hardware appliance impact. Evidence for exploitation is absent in the provided sources, so do not classify as exploited without new vendor, KEV, or incident evidence.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade affected VM-Series Plugin deployments to version 1.0.9 or later.
  • Review Palo Alto Networks advisory for any current remediation guidance.
  • Identify and secure any retained TechSupport files from affected Azure HA systems.
  • Apply credential response procedures if affected files left trusted storage.
  • Limit access to support bundles containing operational or cloud account data.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory VM-Series firewalls running on Microsoft Azure.
  • Confirm whether each Azure deployment uses HA configuration.
  • Check PAN-OS 9.0 systems for VM-Series Plugin versions before 1.0.9.
  • Determine whether TechSupport files were generated or uploaded while vulnerable.
  • Confirm non-HA, non-Azure, and hardware appliances are excluded from scope.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
3

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2020-1978 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
5.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
5.8CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H0.65.2Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

5.8Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2020-1978Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
Palo Alto NetworksVM-Series Plugin1.0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.