# CVE-2021-3036: PAN-OS: Administrator secrets are logged in web server logs when using the PAN-OS XML API incorrectly

> Administrators' credentials are exposed in cleartext logs when the PAN-OS XML API is used incorrectly with duplicate parameters.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 20 Apr 2021
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-r794-wg43-vp3f

## What is CVE-2021-3036?

CVE-2021-3036 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os, published on 20 Apr 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An information exposure through log file vulnerability exists in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software where secrets in PAN-OS XML API requests are logged in cleartext to the web server logs when the API is used incorrectly. This vulnerability applies only to PAN-OS appliances that are configured to use the PAN-OS XML API and exists only when a client includes a duplicate API parameter in API requests. Logged information includes the cleartext username, password, and API key of the administrator making the PAN-OS XML API request.

Weakness: CWE-532 (Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log File)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-3036?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-3036?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-3036 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-3036 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-3036 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-2021-3036 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-3036 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os, published on 20 Apr 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-3036 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-2021-3036/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-3036/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-3036
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-3036
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-3036

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-3036/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.