# CVE-2019-1581: PAN-OS: Remote code execution vulnerability in the PAN-OS SSH device management interface

> Unauthenticated remote attackers can execute arbitrary commands with root privileges via the SSH management interface in PAN-OS firewalls.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 23 Aug 2019
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xm25-5jmx-4mjc

## What is CVE-2019-1581?

CVE-2019-1581 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os, published on 23 Aug 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A remote code execution vulnerability in the PAN-OS SSH device management interface that can lead to unauthenticated remote users with network access to the SSH management interface gaining root access to PAN-OS. This issue affects PAN-OS 7.1 versions prior to 7.1.24-h1, 7.1.25; 8.0 versions prior to 8.0.19-h1, 8.0.20; 8.1 versions prior to 8.1.9-h4, 8.1.10; 9.0 versions prior to 9.0.3-h3, 9.0.4.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation), CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-1581?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-1581?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-1581 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-1581 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-1581 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os

- [CVE-2024-3400](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-3400/): Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS Command Injection (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-2021](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-2021/): Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS Authentication Bypass (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2017-15944](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15944/): Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-0300](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-0300/): Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.3, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-0012](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-0012/): Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS Management Interface Authentication Bypass (critical 9.3, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-1581 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-1581 is a critical command injection vulnerability in Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os, published on 23 Aug 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-1581 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-1581/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-1581/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1581
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-1581
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-1581

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-1581/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.