# CVE-2026-0296: GlobalProtect App: Improper Certificate Validation Bypass Vulnerability

> An unauthenticated attacker with man-in-the-middle access can intercept and modify GlobalProtect app communications on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.5 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/AU:N/R:U/V:D/RE:M/U:Amber`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 13 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-grg9-vqcx-frvj

## What is CVE-2026-0296?

CVE-2026-0296 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect App, published on 13 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Improper certificate validation vulnerabilities in Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect™ app enable an unauthenticated attacker with man-in-the-middle (MitM) access to intercept and modify application communications. VPN tunnel traffic is not impacted.

The GlobalProtect app on iOS, Android, and Chrome OS is not affected.

Weakness: CWE-295 (Improper Certificate Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-0296?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Paloaltonetworks Globalprotect.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-0296?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-0296 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-0296 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-0296 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect App

- [CVE-2025-4232](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-4232/): GlobalProtect: Authenticated Code Injection Through Wildcard on macOS (high 8.5)
- [CVE-2021-3057](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-3057/): GlobalProtect App: Buffer Overflow Vulnerability When Connecting to Portal or Gateway (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2023-0009](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-0009/): GlobalProtect App: Local Privilege Escalation (PE) Vulnerability (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2022-0016](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0016/): GlobalProtect App: Privilege Escalation Vulnerability When Using Connect Before Logon (high 7.4)
- [CVE-2025-0120](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-0120/): GlobalProtect App: Local Privilege Escalation (PE) Vulnerability (high 7.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-0296 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-0296 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect App, published on 13 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-0296 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect App. 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-2026-0296/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-0296/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-0296
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-0296
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-0296

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-0296/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.