Palo Alto PAN-OS Root CLI Command Injection CVE-2026-0261
CVE-2026-0261 Published on May 13, 2026
PAN-OS: Authenticated Admin Command Injection Vulnerability
Multiple command injection vulnerabilities in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS® software enable an authenticated administrator to bypass system restrictions and run arbitrary commands as a root user. To be able to exploit this issue, the user must have access to the PAN-OS CLI or Web UI.
The security risk posed by this issue is significantly minimized when CLI access is restricted to a limited group of administrators and by restricting access to the management web interface 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 these vulnerabilities.
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2026-0261 can be exploited with network access, and requires user privileges. This vulnerability is considered to have a low attack complexity. The potential impact of an exploit of this vulnerability is considered to have no impact on confidentiality and integrity and availability.
Timeline
Initial publication.
Weakness Type
What is a Shell injection Vulnerability?
The software constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component.
CVE-2026-0261 has been classified to as a Shell injection vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2026-0261
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Affected Versions
Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW:- Version All is unaffected.
- Version 12.1.0 and below 12.1.7, 12.1.4-h5 is affected.
- Version 11.2.0 and below 11.2.12, 11.2.10-h6, 11.2.7-h13, 11.2.4-h17 is affected.
- Version 11.1.0 and below 11.1.15, 11.1.13-h5, 11.1.10-h25, 11.1.7-h6, 11.1.6-h32, 11.1.4-h33 is affected.
- Version 10.2.0 and below 10.2.18-h6, 10.2.16-h7, 10.2.13-h21, 10.2.10-h36, 10.2.7-h34 is affected.
- Version All is unaffected.
- Before * is affected.
Exploit Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) scores estimate the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. The percentile shows you how this score compares to all other vulnerabilities.