Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a critical Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS flaw affecting certain firewalls using GlobalProtect. An unauthenticated attacker could run code as root on the firewall. Because CISA lists it as known exploited, internet-exposed GlobalProtect firewalls should be treated as urgent incident-response and remediation priorities.
Executive priority
Treat this as a board-level operational risk for any exposed GlobalProtect firewall. The combination of root-level impact, no authentication requirement, CVSS 10.0 severity, and confirmed exploitation warrants emergency patching, exposure reduction, and compromise assessment.
Technical view
CVE-2024-3400 combines arbitrary file creation with OS command injection in specific PAN-OS versions and GlobalProtect configurations. The CVSS 3.1 score is 10.0, with network access, no privileges, no user interaction, changed scope, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS firewalls running affected versions with the vulnerable GlobalProtect feature configuration. Cloud NGFW, Panorama appliances, and Prisma Access are stated as not impacted in the provided sources.
Exploitation context
Active exploitation is supported by CISA KEV status and Volexity’s public zero-day reporting. The sources indicate unauthenticated remote code execution with root privileges is possible, but do not justify broader claims beyond affected PAN-OS GlobalProtect deployments.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports critical unauthenticated RCE in specific PAN-OS GlobalProtect configurations. Public sources name CWE-20 and CWE-77. Fixed versions and exact configuration predicates should be taken from the Palo Alto Networks advisory; the supplied bundle does not enumerate them.
Mitigation direction
- Prioritize all internet-facing GlobalProtect firewalls for immediate review.
- Follow Palo Alto Networks advisory guidance for fixed releases and mitigations.
- Limit exposure of affected GlobalProtect interfaces where business operations allow.
- Monitor Unit 42 and Volexity guidance for indicators and response updates.
- Do not include Cloud NGFW, Panorama, or Prisma Access unless vendor guidance changes.
Validation and detection
- Inventory PAN-OS firewalls and identify GlobalProtect-enabled systems.
- Compare installed PAN-OS versions against the Palo Alto Networks advisory.
- Confirm whether each firewall has the vulnerable feature configuration.
- Review firewall and SIEM telemetry for vendor-published indicators.
- Verify remediation status after applying vendor guidance.
Public sources used
Michael Williams reviewed this cited source version on .
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-20: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. 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 lookupCWE-77: 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 lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2024-3400 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
- Critical
- CVSS
- 10 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/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.
CISA KEV status
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:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H3.96Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
10CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2024-3400CVE reference · vendor-advisory
- https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/cve-2024-3400/CVE reference · technical-description
- https://www.volexity.com/blog/2024/04/12/zero-day-exploitation-of-unauthenticated-remote-code-execution-vulnerability-in-globalprotect-cve-2024-3400/CVE reference · technical-description
- https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2024/04/more-on-the-pan-os-cve/CVE reference · technical-description
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2024-3400CVE reference · government-resource
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 Input Validation
Improper Input Validation represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.