CVE-2025-0130 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software specifically when the web proxy feature is enabled. The root cause is a CWE-754 type flaw, which involves improper checking for unusual or exceptional conditions. This vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker to send a burst of specially crafted packets to the affected firewall, causing it to become unresponsive and eventually reboot. If the attacker repeatedly triggers this condition, the firewall can enter maintenance mode, effectively taking the device offline and disrupting network security enforcement. Notably, this vulnerability does not affect Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW or Prisma Access products, indicating it is limited to certain PAN-OS deployments with the web proxy feature enabled. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 8.2, reflecting a high severity level due to the network attack vector (no authentication required), no user interaction needed, and significant impact on availability (denial of service leading to reboot and maintenance mode). The attack complexity is high, suggesting some specialized knowledge or conditions are required to exploit it. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no patches or mitigations have been linked yet. The vulnerability was reserved in late 2024 and published in mid-2025, indicating recent discovery and disclosure.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to network security infrastructure relying on Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS firewalls with the web proxy feature enabled. Successful exploitation results in denial of service, causing firewalls to reboot and enter maintenance mode, which can lead to extended downtime and loss of perimeter security controls. This can disrupt business operations, especially for critical infrastructure, financial institutions, and enterprises with strict compliance requirements. The unavailability of the firewall could also expose internal networks to further attacks during the downtime. Since the attack requires no authentication and no user interaction, it can be launched remotely by threat actors scanning for vulnerable devices. The high attack complexity somewhat limits mass exploitation but does not eliminate targeted attacks. European organizations with high reliance on Palo Alto Networks firewalls in sensitive sectors such as finance, government, and telecommunications are particularly at risk. Additionally, the lack of patches at disclosure time means organizations must rely on interim mitigations to maintain security posture.

1. Immediate mitigation should include disabling the web proxy feature on PAN-OS firewalls if it is not essential for business operations, as the vulnerability is tied to this feature. 2. Network administrators should implement strict ingress filtering and rate limiting to detect and block bursts of suspicious or malformed packets targeting the firewall, reducing the risk of triggering the vulnerability. 3. Deploy network intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) with signatures or heuristics to identify exploitation attempts once available. 4. Monitor firewall logs and system health closely for signs of unresponsiveness or reboot cycles indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. Engage with Palo Alto Networks support for any available patches or hotfixes and apply them promptly once released. 6. Consider deploying redundant firewall systems or failover configurations to maintain network availability if one device becomes compromised or enters maintenance mode. 7. Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing focusing on firewall configurations and exposure to ensure early detection of exploitation attempts.