Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-0005

Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os 8.1.0 – 8.1.24

Published
12 April 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 4.1
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
EPSS Score 0.0026 18th percentile
Risk Priority 33 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-0005 is a medium-severity Exposure of Sensitive System Information to an Unauthorized Control Sphere (CWE-497) vulnerability in Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os. Its CVSS base score is 4.1 (Medium).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Credentials In Files (T1552.001); ranked at the 18th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

A vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software enables an authenticated administrator to expose the plaintext values of secrets stored in the device configuration and encrypted API keys.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1552.001 Credentials In Files Credential Access
Adversaries may search local file systems and remote file shares for files containing insecurely stored credentials.
T1552.004 Private Keys Credential Access
Adversaries may search for private key certificate files on compromised systems for insecurely stored credentials.
T1005 Data from Local System Collection
Adversaries may search local system sources, such as file systems, configuration files, local databases, virtual machine files, or process memory, to find files of interest and sensitive data prior to Exfiltration.
T1082 System Information Discovery Discovery
An adversary may attempt to get detailed information about the operating system and hardware, including version, patches, hotfixes, service packs, and architecture.
T1552 Unsecured Credentials Credential Access
Adversaries may search compromised systems to find and obtain insecurely stored credentials.
T1552.002 Credentials in Registry Credential Access
Adversaries may search the Registry on compromised systems for insecurely stored credentials.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2024-5916Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os
CVE-2025-4614Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os
CVE-2026-0281Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os
CVE-2023-6791Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os
CVE-2023-38046Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os
CVE-2025-0111Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os
CVE-2023-0008Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os
CVE-2024-5919Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os
CVE-2025-0124Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os
CVE-2024-3384Same product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-Os

Affected Assets

paloaltonetworks
pan-os
8.1.0 — 8.1.24 · 9.0.0 — 9.0.17 · 9.1.0 — 9.1.15

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 9 hardening rules · 5 OS baselines
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V14.2.8
  • V14.1.2

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-497

Ongoing reviews detect and remove sensitive system information before it reaches publicly accessible systems.

addresses: CWE-497

Employs detection to prevent unauthorized mining of sensitive system information from being exfiltrated to external control spheres.

addresses: CWE-312

Training on secure data handling discourages cleartext storage of sensitive information.

addresses: CWE-497

Documenting where system information is processed and stored prevents exposure to unauthorized control spheres.

addresses: CWE-312

Data action mapping can detect storage actions that leave sensitive information in cleartext.

addresses: CWE-312

Configuration policies can mandate secure storage methods to avoid cleartext storage of sensitive information.

addresses: CWE-312

Policy requires protection measures such as encryption for sensitive data stored on media, preventing cleartext exposure.

addresses: CWE-497

The control stops sensitive system information from crossing into unauthorized control spheres through EM emanations.

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.DS-01 full match
prevents

Encryption and cryptographic controls for data-at-rest directly prevent cleartext storage of sensitive information.

PR.AA-05 mostly match
prevents

Enforcing least-privilege access permissions directly prevents unauthorized actors from reaching sensitive system information.

PR.IR-01 mostly match
prevents

Protecting environments from unauthorized logical access stops exposure of internal system details to outsiders.

PR.PS-06 partial match
prevents

Secure-development practices reduce the chance of code paths that leak sensitive system information.

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.

mitigates

Requiring non-standard deletion or physical destruction of media ensures that sensitive information is not left in cleartext on discarded or repurposed equipment.

mitigates

Secure deletion of data before device transfer prevents residual sensitive information from remaining in cleartext on storage media that leave organizational control.

mitigates

Secure deletion of obsolete or temporary copies prevents sensitive data from remaining in cleartext on disk after its intended lifetime.

A.8.11 Data masking partial match
mitigates

Substituting real values with hashes or encrypted tokens before storage reduces the quantity of cleartext sensitive information that ends up persisted on disk.

finds

When clear-text sensitive data is detected leaving controlled storage, the control can block the transfer, thereby limiting the exposure that would result from unencrypted storage on external media or cloud services.

mitigates

By insisting that any retained test copies be stored securely and only for testing, the control reduces the likelihood that clear-text operational data will persist on disk or in backups.

Hardening callouts derived

Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).

Oracle Linux 8 (3 rules)
  • V-248525 All OL 8 local disk partitions must implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure or modification of all information that requires at-rest protection. prevents CWE-312
  • V-248551 A sticky bit must be set on all OL 8 public directories to prevent unauthorized and unintended information transferred via shared system resources. prevents CWE-497
  • V-248580 OL 8 must prevent kernel profiling by unprivileged users. prevents CWE-497
Oracle Linux 9 (1 rule)
  • V-271756 OL 9 local disk partitions must implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure or modification of all information that requires at rest protection. prevents CWE-312
RHEL 8 (2 rules)
  • V-230224 All RHEL 8 local disk partitions must implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure or modification of all information that requires at rest protection. prevents CWE-312
  • V-230270 RHEL 8 must prevent kernel profiling by unprivileged users. prevents CWE-497
Ubuntu 22.04 (1 rule)
  • V-260470 Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, when booted, must require authentication upon booting into single-user and maintenance modes. prevents CWE-497
Ubuntu 24.04 (1 rule)
  • V-270675 Ubuntu 24.04 LTS when booted must require authentication upon booting into single-user and maintenance modes. prevents CWE-497

References