CVE-2020-2038

HIGH

Palo Alto Networks Authenticated Remote Code Execution

Title source: metasploit
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 3 public exploits for CVE-2020-2038. PoCs published by UnD3sc0n0c1d0, und3sc0n0c1d0, Mikhail Klyuchnikov, Nikita Abramov, UnD3sc0n0c1d0, jheysel-r7, including Metasploit module exploits/linux/http/panos_op_cmd_exec.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit demonstrates an OS command injection vulnerability in PAN-OS management interface, allowing authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges via crafted API requests.

Description

An OS Command Injection vulnerability in the PAN-OS management interface that allows authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary OS commands with root privileges. This issue impacts: PAN-OS 9.0 versions earlier than 9.0.10; PAN-OS 9.1 versions earlier than 9.1.4; PAN-OS 10.0 versions earlier than 10.0.1.

Exploits (3)

exploitdb WORKING POC
by UnD3sc0n0c1d0 · pythonremotemultiple
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/51005

This exploit demonstrates an OS command injection vulnerability in PAN-OS management interface, allowing authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges via crafted API requests.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: PAN-OS <10.0.1, <9.1.4, <9.0.10
Auth required
Prerequisites: Valid administrator credentials · Network access to PAN-OS management interface
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 5 stars
by und3sc0n0c1d0 · poc
https://github.com/und3sc0n0c1d0/CVE-2020-2038

This PoC exploits an OS command injection vulnerability in Palo Alto PAN-OS management interface, allowing authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges via crafted API requests.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Palo Alto PAN-OS (versions < 9.0.10, < 9.1.4, < 10.0.1)
Auth required
Prerequisites: Valid administrator credentials · Network access to the management interface
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
metasploit WORKING POC EXCELLENT
by Mikhail Klyuchnikov, Nikita Abramov, UnD3sc0n0c1d0, jheysel-r7 · rubypoclinux
https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/http/panos_op_cmd_exec.rb

This Metasploit module exploits an OS command injection vulnerability (CVE-2020-2038) in the PAN-OS management interface, allowing authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges via a crafted API request.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS < 10.0.1, < 9.1.4, < 9.0.10
Auth required
Prerequisites: Valid administrator credentials · Network access to the PAN-OS management interface
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (3)

Core 3
Core References
Vendor Advisory x_refsource_misc
https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2020-2038
Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry x_refsource_misc
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/168008/PAN-OS-10.0-Remote-Code-Execution.html

Scores

CVSS v3 7.2
EPSS 0.8609
EPSS Percentile 99.7%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Details

CWE
CWE-78
Status published
Products (1)
paloaltonetworks/pan-os 9.0.0 - 9.0.10
Published Sep 09, 2020
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026