Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw could let an outside attacker take full control of certain Palo Alto Networks firewalls if they can reach the GlobalProtect interface and know specific configuration details. It affects PAN-OS and some Prisma Access 2.1 firewall deployments. The impact is severe because successful exploitation runs code as root.
Executive priority
Treat this as high priority for remote access infrastructure. Root-level compromise of firewalls can affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability, but the available evidence indicates higher attack complexity and no confirmed active exploitation in the provided sources.
Technical view
CVE-2021-3060 is a CWE-78 OS command injection in the SCEP feature of PAN-OS. It is unauthenticated, network-based, and requires high attack complexity because the attacker needs GlobalProtect access and configuration knowledge. A successful attack can execute arbitrary code with root privileges.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely where affected PAN-OS 8.1, 9.0, 9.1, 10.0, or 10.1 versions are still deployed with relevant SCEP and GlobalProtect interface exposure. Prisma Access 2.1 Preferred and 2.1 Innovation firewalls are also listed as impacted.
Exploitation context
The provided bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. The exploit path is still serious: no credentials are required, but the attacker needs network reachability to GlobalProtect interfaces and specific configuration knowledge.
Researcher notes
Affected PAN-OS versions are before 8.1.20-h1, 9.0.14-h3, 9.1.11-h2, 10.0.8, and 10.1.3. The CVSS vector is 8.1 AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Evidence is limited to the supplied public advisories and CVE records.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade PAN-OS to the fixed versions named by Palo Alto Networks or later.
- Check Palo Alto Networks guidance for Prisma Access 2.1 remediation status and actions.
- Reduce unnecessary network exposure to GlobalProtect interfaces where operationally feasible.
- Review SCEP usage and remove unused configurations where appropriate.
Validation and detection
- Inventory PAN-OS versions across all firewall and Panorama-managed assets.
- Identify Prisma Access 2.1 Preferred or Innovation firewall deployments.
- Confirm whether GlobalProtect interfaces are reachable from untrusted networks.
- Review whether SCEP is configured on affected systems.
- Verify upgraded systems meet or exceed the fixed release versions.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-78: Command execution behavior lookup
Command injection weaknesses can lead defenders to review execution techniques and command interpreter telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-3060 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.25.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.1HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2021-3060CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/pan-os/10-0/pan-os-admin/certificate-management/configure-the-master-key.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/prisma/prisma-access/innovation/2-1/prisma-access-panorama-admin/prepare-the-prisma-access-infrastructure/get-started-with-prisma-access-overview.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.