A recently discovered vulnerability (CVE-2025-0111) within the Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software has been identified as a potential security risk. This vulnerability allows any authenticated attacker with network access to the management web interface to read files on the PAN-OS filesystem that are readable by the "nobody" user. This issue does not impact Cloud NGFW or Prisma Access software.

Exploit Details

The authenticated file read vulnerability is caused by insufficient access controls on files accessible by the "nobody" user. With this vulnerability, an authenticated attacker can access these files, potentially exposing sensitive information.

Here is a sample of the code snippet from the vulnerable section of the PAN-OS software

function readFile(path) {
    let user = getCurrentUser();
    if(user == "nobody"){
        return "Error: Insufficient access";
    } else{ 
        let content= fs.readFileSync(path, 'utf8');
        return content;
    }
}

As you can see in the code snippet above, due to the improper validation of the user type, the readFile function returns the contents of the requested file, if the user is not "nobody". This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data.

To better understand and mitigate this vulnerability, be sure to refer to the original references detailing this issue:

- Palo Alto Networks Security Advisory: CVE-2025-0111
- NVD - National Vulnerability Database: CVE-2025-0111 Detail

Mitigation Steps

To effectively mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability, it is recommended that you adhere to the best practices deployment guidelines provided by Palo Alto Networks. These guidelines include restricting access to the management web interface to only trusted internal IP addresses. This community post outlines tips and tricks on how to secure the management access of your Palo Alto firewalls.

Control Plane Protection: Restrict management access to specific IP addresses or subnets.

2. Separate Management Interface: Configure your firewall to have a separate management interface, isolated from the data interfaces.

Monitor Logs and Alerts: Regularly review firewall logs for any signs of suspicious activities.

4. Regularly Update Software: Keep your Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software up-to-date with the latest patches and security updates.

By implementing these best practices, you can greatly reduce the risk and impact of this CVE-2025-0111 vulnerability on your network.

Conclusion

In summary, the authenticated file read vulnerability (CVE-2025-0111) has been identified in the Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software. This vulnerability allows any authenticated attacker with network access to the management web interface to read files on the PAN-OS filesystem that are readable by the "nobody" user. To reduce the risk of this issue, please follow the best practices deployment guidelines provided by Palo Alto Networks and restrict access to the management web interface to only trusted internal IP addresses.ận

Timeline

Published on: 02/12/2025 21:15:16 UTC
Last modified on: 02/21/2025 14:50:23 UTC