# CVE-2021-3051: Cortex XSOAR: Authentication Bypass in SAML Authentication

> An attacker can bypass SAML authentication to access protected resources and perform unauthorized actions on the Cortex XSOAR server.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/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:** 8 Sep 2021
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4qfq-vjf3-59qg

## What is CVE-2021-3051?

CVE-2021-3051 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR, published on 8 Sep 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An improper verification of cryptographic signature vulnerability exists in Cortex XSOAR SAML authentication that enables an unauthenticated network-based attacker with specific knowledge of the Cortex XSOAR instance to access protected resources and perform unauthorized actions on the Cortex XSOAR server. This issue impacts: Cortex XSOAR 5.5.0 builds earlier than 1578677; Cortex XSOAR 6.0.2 builds earlier than 1576452; Cortex XSOAR 6.1.0 builds earlier than 1578663; Cortex XSOAR 6.2.0 builds earlier than 1578666. All Cortex XSOAR instances hosted by Palo Alto Networks are protected from this vulnerability; no additional action is required for these instances.

Weakness: CWE-347 (Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-3051?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Paloaltonetworks Cortex Xsoar.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-3051?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-3051 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-3051 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-3051 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR

- [CVE-2021-3044](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-3044/): Cortex XSOAR: Unauthorized Usage of the REST API (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-0020](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0020/): Cortex XSOAR: Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Vulnerability in Web Interface (medium 6.8)
- [CVE-2022-0031](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0031/): Cortex XSOAR: Local Privilege Escalation (PE) Vulnerability in Cortex XSOAR Engine (medium 6.7)
- [CVE-2023-3282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-3282/): Cortex XSOAR: Local Privilege Escalation (PE) Vulnerability in Cortex XSOAR Engine (medium 6.4)
- [CVE-2021-3034](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-3034/): Cortex XSOAR: Secrets for SAML single sign-on (SSO) integration may be logged in system logs (medium 5.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-3051 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-3051 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR, published on 8 Sep 2021. 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-2021-3051 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR. 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-2021-3051/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-3051/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-3051
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-3051
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-3051

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-3051/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.