Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw lets an authenticated GlobalProtect portal or gateway user reach the AWS EC2 metadata endpoint from affected PAN-OS VM-Series firewalls. If abused, the attacker could perform actions permitted by the firewall instance's AWS role, which may expose or alter cloud resources depending on IAM permissions.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for internet-facing GlobalProtect deployments on AWS, especially where the EC2 role has broad permissions. This is high risk because compromise could extend from VPN access into AWS control-plane actions.
Technical view
CVE-2021-3062 is a PAN-OS improper access control issue affecting VM-Series firewalls on AWS: 8.1 before 8.1.20, 9.0 before 9.0.14, 9.1 before 9.1.11, and 10.0 before 10.0.8. It requires authenticated GlobalProtect access and can reach EC2 instance metadata. Prisma Access is stated as not impacted.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS VM-Series firewalls hosted on AWS with GlobalProtect portals or gateways and vulnerable PAN-OS versions. Business impact depends heavily on the EC2 role permissions attached to the firewall instance.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. Attackers need authenticated GlobalProtect access. Successful exploitation could use the firewall's EC2 role privileges, but available sources do not provide exploit activity details.
Researcher notes
The key condition is authenticated GlobalProtect access to affected AWS-hosted VM-Series firewalls. The bundle contains broader affected metadata, including PAN-OS 10.1 and Prisma Access entries, but the narrative states Prisma Access is not impacted and names fixed thresholds only for PAN-OS 8.1, 9.0, 9.1, and 10.0.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade affected PAN-OS VM-Series firewalls to the fixed versions named by Palo Alto Networks.
- Review the AWS IAM role attached to each firewall instance for least privilege.
- Check Palo Alto Networks guidance before applying compensating controls.
- Confirm Prisma Access is not treated as affected unless vendor guidance changes.
Validation and detection
- Inventory AWS-hosted VM-Series firewalls and record PAN-OS versions.
- Identify GlobalProtect portals and gateways running on those firewalls.
- Compare versions against fixed thresholds: 8.1.20, 9.0.14, 9.1.11, and 10.0.8.
- Review EC2 instance role permissions for sensitive AWS actions.
- Check logs for authenticated GlobalProtect activity from unusual users or locations.
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
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CWE-284: Authorization and privilege behavior lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-3062 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:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
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:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N2.85.2Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.1HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2021-3062CVE 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 Access Control
Improper Access Control represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.