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CRITICAL · CVSS 9.8 CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability

CVE-2017-15944

Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS

Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS before 6.1.19, 7.0.x before 7.0.19, 7.1.x before 7.1.14, and 8.0.x before 8.0.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors involving the management interface.

CVSS
9.8
CRITICAL
EPSS
98.3%
30-day exploitation
Ransomware groups
0
recorded exploiting
Published
11 Dec 2017
CWE-20, CWE-119

Exploitation status

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities

Listed by CISA on 18 August 2022. US federal agencies were required to remediate it by 8 September 2022.

EPSS — exploitation probability

FIRST puts the probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days at 98.3%, which is higher than 99.9% of all scored vulnerabilities. EPSS is a forecast of activity, not a measure of severity, and it is rescored daily.

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Frequently asked questions

Is CVE-2017-15944 being exploited by ransomware groups?

No ransomware group in this database is currently recorded as exploiting CVE-2017-15944.

What does CVE-2017-15944 affect?

CVE-2017-15944 affects Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS. Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS before 6.1.19, 7.0.x before 7.0.19, 7.1.x before 7.1.14, and 8.0.x before 8.0.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors involving the management interface.

How severe is CVE-2017-15944?

CVE-2017-15944 is rated CRITICAL with a CVSS base score of 9.8. EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 98.3%, higher than 99.9% of all scored vulnerabilities. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, with a federal remediation deadline of 8 September 2022.

How should organisations respond to CVE-2017-15944?

Apply the vendor patch for Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS as the first priority, and treat any internet-facing instance as the most urgent. Because this vulnerability is associated with ransomware activity, also review whether the affected systems were reachable before patching, rather than assuming that patching alone closes the incident.