CVE-2021-3041 Cortex XDR Agent: Improper control of user-controlled file leads to local privilege escalation

High 7.8 Published Updated

Local authenticated users can escalate privileges to SYSTEM by manipulating files or registry keys in the Cortex XDR agent.

Exploited in the wild
Not known
Login needed
Any signed-in user
Attackable
Local or same network only
Victim action needed
Not needed
Fix
None listed

What is CVE-2021-3041?

CVE-2021-3041 is a high-severity vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Agent, published on 10 Jun 2021. 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 the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR agent on Windows platforms that enables 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 or to manipulate key registry values. This issue impacts: Cortex XDR agent 5.0 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 5.0.11; Cortex XDR agent 6.1 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 6.1.8; Cortex XDR agent 7.2 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 7.2.3; All versions of Cortex XDR agent 7.2 without content update release 171 or a later version.

Weakness: CWE-427

Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-3041?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Paloaltonetworks Cortex Xdr Agent.

How do I fix CVE-2021-3041?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-3041 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Is CVE-2021-3041 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-3041 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Sources

Also known as GHSA-gvxw-2m7p-wc8h.

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