Cyber Resilience

CVE-2019-1579

Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os ≤ 7.1.19

CISA KEVActive ExploitationEUVD ExploitedPublic PoCRansomware-linked
Published
19 July 2019
Modified
12 August 2026
KEV Added
10 January 2022
Patch / advisory
View advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 8.1
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.46 99th percentile
Risk Priority 86 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2019-1579 is a high-severity Use of Externally-Controlled Format String (CWE-134) vulnerability in Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os. Its CVSS base score is 8.1 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked in the top 1% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

The vulnerability is a remote code execution flaw, tracked as CVE-2019-1579 and associated with CWE-134, that affects PAN-OS 7.1.18 and earlier, PAN-OS 8.0.11-h1 and earlier, and PAN-OS 8.1.2 and earlier when the GlobalProtect Portal or GlobalProtect Gateway interface is enabled. The issue carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.1 with a network attack vector, high complexity, no required privileges or user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit the flaw over the network to execute arbitrary code on the affected device. Successful exploitation grants the attacker full control of the target system, enabling actions that compromise data confidentiality, system integrity, and service availability.

Palo Alto Networks has published an advisory at security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2019-1579 detailing the affected versions and remediation steps. Public analysis, including a detailed report referencing Uber as a case study, demonstrates practical pre-authentication exploitation of the GlobalProtect SSL VPN interfaces.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Remote Code Execution in PAN-OS 7.1.18 and earlier, PAN-OS 8.0.11-h1 and earlier, and PAN-OS 8.1.2 and earlier with GlobalProtect Portal or GlobalProtect Gateway Interface enabled may allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary code.

CWE(s)
CWE-134
KEV Date Added
10 January 2022

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalation
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to elevate privileges.
attack.mitre.org →
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
attack.mitre.org →
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
attack.mitre.org →
T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access Credential Access
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to collect credentials.
attack.mitre.org →
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2017-15944Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Osboth on KEV
CVE-2024-3400Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Osboth on KEV
CVE-2024-0012Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Osboth on KEV
CVE-2025-0108Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Osboth on KEV
CVE-2025-0111Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Osboth on KEV
CVE-2024-9474Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Osboth on KEV
CVE-2020-2021Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Osboth on KEV
CVE-2022-0028Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Osboth on KEV
CVE-2026-0280Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os
CVE-2026-0263Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os

Affected Assets

paloaltonetworks
pan-os
≤ 7.1.19 · 8.0.0 — 8.0.12 · 8.1.0 — 8.1.3

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly prevent external format strings via code review, static analysis, and safe APIs.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability identification can discover existing format-string flaws but does not prevent their introduction.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

A.8.29 Security testing in development and acceptance mostly match
finds

Security testing in development can detect format-string vulnerabilities before release.

A.8.25 Secure development life cycle partial match
prevents

Secure SDLC mandates input validation and safe API usage that can prevent externally-controlled format strings.

A.8.26 Application security requirements partial match
prevents

Application security requirements can specify safe formatting functions and ban uncontrolled format strings.

A.8.27 Secure system architecture and engineering principles partial match
prevents

Secure architecture principles discourage dangerous string-handling patterns that lead to format-string issues.

A.8.28 Secure coding partial match
prevents

Secure coding standards directly forbid the use of untrusted format strings and prescribe safe alternatives.

References