CVE-2020-1981

PAN-OS: Predictable temporary filename vulnerability allows local privilege escalation

HIGH
7.8
CVSS Score
Published: March 11, 2020 at 06:58 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 03:02 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorPAN-OS

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Severity
HIGH7.8
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.4%

Description

A predictable temporary filename vulnerability in PAN-OS allows local privilege escalation. This issue allows a local attacker who bypassed the restricted shell to execute commands as a low privileged user and gain root access on the PAN-OS hardware or virtual appliance. This issue affects only PAN-OS 8.1 versions earlier than PAN-OS 8.1.13. This issue does not affect PAN-OS 7.1, PAN-OS 9.0, or later PAN-OS versions.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

Affected range stops below 8.1.13, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

References (1)

x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingVendor Advisory
https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2020-1981

CVSS

Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-377CWE-668

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