CVE-2020-2050

PAN-OS: Authentication bypass vulnerability in GlobalProtect SSL VPN client certificate verification

HIGH
8.2
CVSS Score
Published: November 12, 2020 at 12:05 AM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 03:11 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorPAN-OS

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Severity
HIGH8.2
Exploit prediction
EPSS 1%

Description

An authentication bypass vulnerability exists in the GlobalProtect SSL VPN component of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software that allows an attacker to bypass all client certificate checks with an invalid certificate. A remote attacker can successfully authenticate as any user and gain access to restricted VPN network resources when the gateway or portal is configured to rely entirely on certificate-based authentication. Impacted features that use SSL VPN with client certificate verification are: GlobalProtect Gateway, GlobalProtect Portal, GlobalProtect Clientless VPN In configurations where client certificate verification is used in conjunction with other authentication methods, the protections added by the certificate check are ignored as a result of this issue. This issue impacts: PAN-OS 8.1 versions earlier than PAN-OS 8.1.17; PAN-OS 9.0 versions earlier than PAN-OS 9.0.11; PAN-OS 9.1 versions earlier than PAN-OS 9.1.5; PAN-OS 10.0 versions earlier than PAN-OS 10.0.1.

Affected

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

10.0 ≤ v < 10.0.110.0.0 ≤ v < 10.0.18.1 ≤ v < 8.1.178.1.0 ≤ v < 8.1.179.0 ≤ v < 9.0.119.0.0 ≤ v < 9.0.119.1 ≤ v < 9.1.59.1.0 ≤ v < 9.1.510.08.19.09.1
Affected range stops below 10.0.1, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 8.1.17, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 9.0.11, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 9.1.5, 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)

CVSS

8.2HIGHpalo_alto
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
LOW
Availability
NONE
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-285CWE-287

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