CVE-2022-0016

GlobalProtect App: Privilege Escalation Vulnerability When Using Connect Before Logon

HIGH
7.8
CVSS Score
Published: February 10, 2022 at 06:10 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 04:19 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorGlobalProtect· also runs on 2 platforms

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Severity
HIGH7.8
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%

Description

An improper handling of exceptional conditions vulnerability exists within the Connect Before Logon feature of the Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect app that enables a local attacker to escalate to SYSTEM or root privileges when authenticating with Connect Before Logon under certain circumstances. This issue impacts GlobalProtect app 5.2 versions earlier than GlobalProtect app 5.2.9 on Windows and MacOS. This issue does not affect the GlobalProtect app on other platforms.

Affected

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

5.2 ≤ v < 5.2.95.2
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.1.* (unaffected)
Affected range stops below 5.2.9, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.3.* (unaffected)
apple-macos (environment) · microsoft-windows (environment)

Runs on — not affected

The affected product only carries this flaw when running on these platforms. The platforms themselves are not vulnerable.

Remediation

No guide yet

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

References (1)

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-703CWE-755

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