BlackTreeCVE Intelligence
← Back to the CVE catalogue
Full vulnerability report · 2026
CVE-2026-0304High confidence

Cortex XDR Broker VM: Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Palo Alto Networks · Cortex XDR Broker VM

4.8MediumCVSS 4.0
Recommended action
Scheduled

Medium technical severity with no CISA KEV confirmation; remediate through the normal risk-based patch cycle unless local exposure raises the priority.

Patch available
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityMediumOperational priority:Medium, unchanged from published severity.unchanged

Evidence used

  • No CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
  • EPSS is 0.22% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
  • Restrict local access and enforce least privilege on affected hosts.
  • Monitor vendor guidance and exploitation sources for a material change.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Broker VM and falls inside the recorded affected range.
  2. Verify the installed build against the product-specific fixed version after deployment.
  3. Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
  4. Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Mitigation target: As exposure requiresRemediation target: Within 365 days

This automated reassessment organises public evidence. It does not know asset exposure, business impact or control effectiveness and does not replace CVSS or a human risk decision.

Optional official sources

National CERT insights
?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Choose official national sources for this report. Each advisory shows its original language. Your selection is remembered on this device and included in shared links.

Official European source

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.

1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier

EUVD-2026-75268

No EUVD known-exploited evidence

A privilege escalation vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Broker VM enables an authenticated low privileged user with man-in-the-middle (MitM) access to execute code with root privileges on the Broker VM.

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Not present in the current ENISA EUVD known-exploited dataset. This is not proof of no exploitation.
ENISA score
4.8 · CVSS 4.0
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionScheduled

Medium technical severity with no CISA KEV confirmation; remediate through the normal risk-based patch cycle unless local exposure raises the priority.

Patch available
01

What, why and how

A privilege escalation vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Broker VM enables an authenticated low privileged user with man-in-the-middle (MitM) access to execute code with root privileges on the Broker VM.

What

A privilege escalation vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Broker VM enables an authenticated low privileged user with man-in-the-middle (MitM) access to execute code with root privileges on the Broker VM.

Why

The product constructs a string for a command to be executed by a separate component in another control sphere, but it does not properly delimit the intended arguments, options, or switches within that command string.

How

An attacker operating through an adjacent network may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may execute code or commands in the affected security context.

What

A privilege escalation vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Broker VM enables an authenticated low privileged user with man-in-the-middle (MitM) access to execute code with root privileges on the Broker VM.

Why

The product constructs a string for a command to be executed by a separate component in another control sphere, but it does not properly delimit the intended arguments, options, or switches within that command string.

How

An attacker operating through an adjacent network may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may execute code or commands in the affected security context.

02

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
No confirmed evidence

No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.

Public PoC / exploit material
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path
an adjacent network → Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command ('Argument Injection') → execute code or commands in the affected security context
Attack surface
Adjacent
Privileges required
Low: a basic authenticated account is required
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary
Not a CVSS 4.0 base metric
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-88 ↗

CWE-88: Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command ('Argument Injection'). The product constructs a string for a command to be executed by a separate component in another control sphere, but it does not properly delimit the intended arguments, options, or switches within that command string.

CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:L/SI:L/SA:L/E:U/AU:N/R:U/V:D/RE:M/U:Amber

Common Vulnerability Scoring System 4.0: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.

AVAdjacentAttack vector: The attacker must be on an adjacent or logically close network.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.ATPresentAttack requirements: A particular deployment or execution condition must be present.PRLowPrivileges required: The attacker needs basic user-level privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.VCHighVulnerable-system confidentiality: A successful attack can cause a major loss.VIHighVulnerable-system integrity: A successful attack can cause a major loss.VAHighVulnerable-system availability: A successful attack can cause a major loss.SCLowSubsequent-system confidentiality: A successful attack can cause a limited loss.SILowSubsequent-system integrity: A successful attack can cause a limited loss.SALowSubsequent-system availability: A successful attack can cause a limited loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
After compromise, an attacker may use built-in shells, scripting engines, scheduled tasks and native network utilities for discovery, persistence or movement. This is a plausible LoTL path, not evidence that it has occurred for every attack.
Remote code executionPrivilege escalationCWE-88
A

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2026-75268Official EUVD mapping

A privilege escalation vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Broker VM enables an authenticated low privileged user with man-in-the-middle (MitM) access to execute code with root privileges on the Broker VM.

Official EUVD record ↗
BSI · German · WID-SEC-2026-3296Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Broker VM: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Ausführen von beliebigem Programmcode mit Administratorrechten

Ein Angreifer aus einem angrenzenden Netzwerk kann eine Schwachstelle in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Broker VM ausnutzen, um beliebigen Programmcode mit Administratorrechten auszuführen.

Official advisory ↗
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20260916Security Bulletin 16 Sep 2026

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 16 Sep 2026, published on 16 September 2026. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2026-AVI-1156Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits Palo Alto Networks

eures à 151.26.5.170 Résumé De multiples vulnérabilités ont été découvertes dans les produits Palo Alto Networks. Certaines d'entre elles permettent à un attaquant de provoquer une exécution de code arbitraire à distance, un déni de service à distance et une injection de code indirecte à distance (XSS). Solutions Se référer au bulletin de sécurité de l'éditeur pour l'obtention des correctifs (cf. section Documentation). Documentation Bulletin de sécurité Palo Alto Networks du 09 septembre 2026 https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2026-0302 Bulletin de sécurité Palo Alto Networks du 09 septembre 2026 https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2026-0304 Bulletin de sécurité Palo Alto Networks du 09 septembre 2026 https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2026-0305 Bulletin de sécurité Palo Alto Networks du 09 septembre 2026 https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2026-0307 Bulletin de sécurité Palo Alto Networks du 09 septembre 2026 https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2026-0306 Bulletin de sécurité Palo Alto Networks CVE-2026-0303 du 09 septembre 2026 https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2026-0303 Bulletin de sécurité Palo Alto Networks CVE-2026-0308 du 09 septembre 2026 https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2026-0308 Bulletin de sécurité Palo Alto Networks CVE-2026-0309 du

Official advisory ↗
03

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status
?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Patch available
Affected
Cortex XDR Broker VM: 20.0.96 < 32.0.52
Fixed
Action
Review the linked authoritative reference and apply the recorded fixed release appropriate to the affected product branch.
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. Limit untrusted access and use least privilege until authoritative guidance is available.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 10 Sept 2026 · Last source change 11 Sept 2026, 03:56 UTC · CWE-88 · Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command ('Argument Injection')

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.2
CVSS sourceCNA
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-09-10
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2026-75268
Product sourceCNA
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceCNA
NVD statusNVD awaiting enrichment

Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗
  1. ENISA EUVD mappingEUVD-2026-75268 was added to the official ENISA EUVD mapping for this CVE.
    Before
    not recorded
    After
    {"euvdId":"EUVD-2026-75268"}
    ENISA EUVD ↗
  2. Catalogue recordCVE added to the BlackTree catalogue.
    CNA ↗
Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
CVE published
ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2026-75268↗CVE authority or vendor reference↗Official CVE record (CNA and ADP data)↗NVD record↗
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
Free version - for non-commercial use only.CVE-2026-0304 · cve.blacktree.nl