CVE-2024-5920 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in Palo Alto Networks' PAN-OS software, specifically affecting the Cloud Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) product. This vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of input during web page generation (CWE-79), allowing an authenticated Panorama administrator with read-write privileges to push a maliciously crafted configuration to a PAN-OS node. When this specially crafted configuration is processed, it results in the execution of arbitrary JavaScript code in the browser of a legitimate PAN-OS administrator. This XSS attack vector enables the impersonation of the legitimate administrator, potentially allowing the attacker to perform restricted actions on the PAN-OS node with the same privileges. The vulnerability requires authentication with elevated privileges (read-write Panorama admin) and user interaction (the legitimate admin must access the affected interface), which limits the attack surface but still poses a significant risk within trusted administrative environments. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 4.6 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required for the attacker beyond authenticated Panorama admin access, and user interaction needed. The impact on confidentiality is moderate due to potential session hijacking or credential theft, with limited integrity impact (restricted actions possible) and no direct availability impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or mitigations have been explicitly linked yet. This vulnerability highlights the risk of insufficient input validation in administrative interfaces of critical network security infrastructure, which can lead to privilege escalation and lateral movement within enterprise environments.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-5920 is significant primarily in environments where Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW and Panorama management are deployed. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker with Panorama admin credentials to impersonate legitimate administrators and perform unauthorized configuration changes on PAN-OS nodes, potentially weakening network defenses or creating backdoors. This could lead to compromised network integrity, exposure of sensitive internal traffic, and increased risk of further exploitation or data breaches. Given the central role of NGFWs in enforcing security policies, any compromise could disrupt security monitoring and incident response capabilities. European organizations in sectors with high reliance on Palo Alto Networks products—such as finance, telecommunications, critical infrastructure, and government—may face elevated risks. The requirement for authenticated access and user interaction means insider threats or compromised admin accounts are likely attack vectors. The vulnerability could also facilitate supply chain or lateral attacks within managed service providers or large enterprises using Panorama for centralized firewall management. Overall, the threat could undermine trust in network security controls and increase operational risk if not addressed promptly.

1. Restrict Panorama administrative access strictly to trusted personnel and enforce strong multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 2. Implement strict role-based access control (RBAC) to limit read-write Panorama administrator privileges only to essential users. 3. Monitor Panorama and PAN-OS logs for unusual configuration pushes or administrative activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. 4. Educate administrators to avoid interacting with untrusted or suspicious configurations and to verify configuration changes before applying them. 5. Segregate Panorama management interfaces from general network access using network segmentation and firewall rules to reduce exposure. 6. Regularly review and audit Panorama configurations for unauthorized or unexpected changes. 7. Apply any vendor-released patches or updates promptly once available. 8. Consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) or endpoint protection solutions that can detect and block malicious JavaScript execution in administrative browsers. 9. Use browser security features such as Content Security Policy (CSP) to mitigate XSS impact where possible. 10. Conduct periodic security assessments and penetration testing focused on administrative interfaces to detect similar vulnerabilities proactively.