CVE-2026-0265: PAN-OS: Authentication Bypass with Cloud Authentication Service (CAS) enabled
An authentication bypass vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS® software enables an unauthenticated attacker with network access to bypass authentication controls when Cloud Authentication Service (CAS) is enabled.
The risk is higher if CAS is enabled on the management interface and lower when any other login interfaces are used.
The risk of this issue is greatly reduced if you secure access to the management web interface by restricting access to only trusted internal IP addresses according to our recommended best practice deployment guidelines https://live.paloaltonetworks.com/t5/community-blogs/tips-amp-tricks-how-to-secure-the-management-access-of-your-palo/ba-p/464431 .
This issue is applicable to PAN-OS software on PA-Series and VM-Series firewalls and on Panorama (virtual and M-Series).
Cloud NGFW and Prisma Access® are not impacted by this vulnerability.
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2026-0265 is a Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS authentication bypass tied to Cloud Authentication Service. An unauthenticated attacker with network access may bypass login controls. Risk is highest when CAS is enabled on the management interface, because that can expose firewall or Panorama administration.
Executive priority
Treat this as high priority for firewall and Panorama management planes. Business urgency depends on whether CAS is enabled and management access is exposed. Restrict access immediately while confirming vendor remediation.
Technical view
The issue affects PAN-OS on PA-Series, VM-Series, and Panorama virtual/M-Series when CAS is enabled. It is rated high, CVSS 4.0 score 7.2, and maps to CWE-347. Cloud NGFW and Prisma Access are listed as unaffected.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in PAN-OS environments using CAS, especially where the management web interface is reachable beyond trusted internal IP ranges.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not state active exploitation, and KEV is false. Attack prerequisites include network access and CAS being enabled.
Researcher notes
The source bundle identifies affected product families and risk conditions but does not include fixed version details. Avoid assuming exploit availability or universal exposure without confirming CAS configuration and management interface reachability.
Mitigation direction
Restrict management web interface access to trusted internal IP addresses.
Review Palo Alto advisory for fixed releases; the provided bundle does not name specific patched versions.
Prioritize CAS-enabled management interfaces before other login interfaces.
Confirm Cloud NGFW and Prisma Access are excluded from remediation scope.
Validation and detection
Inventory PAN-OS on PA-Series, VM-Series, and Panorama appliances.
Identify systems with Cloud Authentication Service enabled.
Check whether management web interfaces are reachable from untrusted networks.
Compare deployed PAN-OS versions against Palo Alto advisory guidance.
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
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 · low confidence lookup
CWE-347: 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.
The CVE wording references authentication or credential exposure, so valid-account and credential-access review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
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.
3CVSS vectors
4Timeline events
2ADP providers
3Source links
SSVC decision data
CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: total
CVSS vector scores
3 official scores
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.
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
CWE-347 · source CWE mapping
Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature
Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.