CVE-2025-2179 is a vulnerability identified in the Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect App specifically on Linux devices, affecting versions 6.0.0, 6.1.0, and 6.2.0. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-266, which relates to incorrect privilege assignment. This flaw allows a locally authenticated user with non-administrative privileges to disable the GlobalProtect VPN client despite configuration settings that should prevent such an action. The vulnerability does not affect GlobalProtect versions on other operating systems such as Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome OS, or the UWP app. The CVSS v4.0 base score is 6.8, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring low attack complexity (AC:L) and no user interaction (UI:N). The attacker must have low privileges (PR:L) but does not require authentication (AT:N) beyond local access. The impact is primarily on availability (VA:H) with no impact on confidentiality or integrity. The vulnerability allows an attacker to disrupt VPN connectivity by disabling the app, potentially circumventing security policies enforced via GlobalProtect. There are no known exploits in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability is significant because GlobalProtect is widely used for secure remote access, and disabling it could expose internal networks to unauthorized access or data exfiltration if other controls are weak. The vulnerability is limited to local users on Linux devices, which somewhat restricts the attack surface but remains a concern in environments where Linux endpoints are used for remote access.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to significant security risks, especially in sectors relying heavily on Linux-based endpoints for remote access, such as technology firms, research institutions, and government agencies. By allowing a non-administrative local user to disable the VPN client, attackers or malicious insiders could bypass network access controls, potentially gaining unauthorized access to internal resources or exfiltrating sensitive data. This could undermine compliance with GDPR and other data protection regulations due to unauthorized data exposure. Additionally, disruption of VPN connectivity could impact business continuity and remote workforce productivity. The vulnerability's local nature means that attackers need some level of access to the endpoint, which may be achieved through other means such as phishing or physical access. Given the widespread use of Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect in enterprise environments across Europe, the risk is non-trivial, particularly for organizations with Linux-heavy infrastructures or those that rely on GlobalProtect for enforcing security policies.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Immediately audit Linux endpoints running GlobalProtect versions 6.0.0, 6.1.0, and 6.2.0 to identify affected systems. 2) Restrict local user permissions rigorously, ensuring that only trusted users have access to Linux devices with GlobalProtect installed. 3) Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for unusual activity such as the disabling of VPN clients. 4) Employ application whitelisting or mandatory access control (MAC) frameworks like SELinux or AppArmor to prevent unauthorized modification or disabling of critical security applications. 5) Enforce multi-factor authentication and strong access controls to reduce the risk of initial local compromise. 6) Monitor logs and alerts for signs of GlobalProtect service stoppage or configuration changes. 7) Coordinate with Palo Alto Networks for timely patch deployment once available and consider temporary compensating controls such as network segmentation to limit exposure. 8) Educate users about the risks of local privilege escalation and enforce policies to prevent unauthorized software installation or configuration changes.