CVE-2020-2049 Cortex XDR Agent: Improper control of loaded DLL leads to local privilege escalation

What is CVE-2020-2049?

CVE-2020-2049 is a high-severity vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Agent, published on 9 Dec 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

A local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Agent on the Windows platform that allows an authenticated local Windows user to execute programs with SYSTEM privileges. This requires the user to have the privilege to create files in the Windows root directory. This issue impacts: All versions of Cortex XDR Agent 7.1 with content update 149 and earlier versions; All versions of Cortex XDR Agent 7.2 with content update 149 and earlier versions.

Weakness: CWE-427

Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-2049?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Paloaltonetworks Cortex Xdr Agent.

How do I fix CVE-2020-2049?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-2049 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Is CVE-2020-2049 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-2049 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Agent

• CVE-2022-0015 Cortex XDR Agent: An Uncontrolled Search Path Element Leads to Local Privilege Escalation (PE) Vulnerability High 7.8
• CVE-2021-3042 Cortex XDR Agent: Improper Control of User-Controlled File Leads to Local Privilege Escalation High 7.8
• CVE-2021-3041 Cortex XDR Agent: Improper control of user-controlled file leads to local privilege escalation High 7.8
• CVE-2024-5909 Cortex XDR Agent: Local Windows User Can Disable the Agent Medium 6.8
• CVE-2022-0025 Cortex XDR Agent: An Uncontrolled Search Path Element Leads to Local Privilege Escalation (PE) Vulnerability Medium 6.7

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as GHSA-pjv3-5grh-rmm4.