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CVE-2026-0257MalwarePublished Updated

Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS · Operation Master: Deconstructing a Multi-Tiered Intrusion and Monetization Pipeline

Affects Palo Alto Networks PAN-OSSource AlienVault OTX General

0
Authoritative record:CVE-2026-0257· High 7.8

Exploited in the wild · used in ransomware campaigns · KEV due 1 Jun 2026 · public detection template (Nuclei) · fixed in 12.1.7 : block it and hunt for it in your logs now.

Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 10:43 UTC

CVSS 4.0 base score
7.8High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
KEV deadline
 US federal agencies must patch by this date; a sensible deadline for everyone else. Other KEV due dates
Ransomware
Used in ransomware campaigns
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:N/E:A/AU:N/R:A/V:D/RE:M/U:Red

Exploitation evidence

t = 0 is the CVE’s publication on cve.org

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 13 May 2026

  2. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  3. Exploited in the wild: evidence found.

    Listed in CISA KEV 16 days after disclosure

  4. Observed by OffSeq Mirage: evidence found.

    1 exposed host found; no attack traffic recorded

Timeline

  1. CVE ID reserved

    by Palo Alto Networks, Inc.

    , 191 days before disclosure

  2. CVE published

    on cve.org

    , t = 0

  3. In Threat Radar

    record ingested

    , 21 minutes after disclosure

  4. Added to CISA KEV (opens in a new tab)

    exploitation confirmed · ransomware use known

    , 16 days after disclosure

  5. KEV remediation due

    US federal deadline

    , 19 days after disclosure

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), CISA KEV (opens in a new tab), OffSeq Mirage (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.

What to do

Upgrade PAN-OS to 12.1.7, 11.2.12, 11.1.15 or 10.2.18-h6; Prisma Access to 11.2.7-h13 or 10.2.10-h36.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
Palo Alto NetworksPAN-OSAffected
  • >=12.1.0 <12.1.7
Fixed in
  • 12.1.7
Palo Alto NetworksPAN-OSAffected
  • >=11.2.0 <11.2.12
Fixed in
  • 11.2.12
Palo Alto NetworksPAN-OSAffected
  • >=11.1.0 <11.1.15
Fixed in
  • 11.1.15
Palo Alto NetworksPAN-OSAffected
  • >=10.2.0 <10.2.18-h6
Fixed in
  • 10.2.18-h6
Palo Alto NetworksPrisma AccessAffected
  • >=11.2.0 <11.2.7-h13
Fixed in
  • 11.2.7-h13
Palo Alto NetworksPrisma AccessAffected
  • >=10.2.0 <10.2.10-h36
Fixed in
  • 10.2.10-h36

Description

Operation Master is a sophisticated cybercrime campaign exploiting a GlobalProtect authentication bypass vulnerability (CVE-2026-0257) to compromise enterprise networks across multiple countries. The attackers conducted extensive network scanning to identify high-value targets, executed SQL injection attacks with privilege escalation to steal databases, and exfiltrated Active Directory credentials. They monetized stolen data by selling it on underground forums and operating a multi-tenant automated invoice fraud platform that sent millions of phishing messages and fraudulent links. The operation employed advanced phishing techniques including M365 OAuth device-code phishing and voice-based credential harvesting, with payments collected via PIX through serverless proxies.

Indicators of compromise

Domains 5

  • nuvfaturas.com
  • wattiofaturas.com
  • igreenfaturas.com
  • qrcode.a55scd.com.br
  • nuvenergia.com.br

URLs 1

  • http://yzs.fi/f/

Hashes 14

  • d566ccdd099b0decb7e7288c20097f34da2613e3ffe8c5acbc1a1d01b6fe217c
  • c40c1d4bb0e01f217c893f3dbc6b40802a260ef423f628889a48f996a4c96ed8
  • 2553146aea0b133d565684a8bdfb14cb91526eb88b4e5b22b129b1212f763dd7
  • 54caa256483876debd21c264bfc31bd96f925b2167f6d9358ab7ee0c87e6e37b
  • 0c36cf593cf177b87f34abb19b5d65619199a4aca9c8e19e39318ad2c4033385
  • fd72014903466f2abcabb724df58682e629bf300703a06dad4dd0551018a42b5
  • 39aab72976d63f0218c3470c05afce5a896d28f860efaa598288d9409499b26b
  • 9a839b1e4c8cc5c0ebac1849973f136e68aae8eba357296be9e6cef9aff35ae6
  • 88527b06d836200a36130ee219242e4a8342520df85cb3886769da646dac25c9
  • 2ced60c88f5a2b36acb977ebf120e39b527dcff07b5072013350ebeefcabe760

CVEs 8

  • CVE-2020-1938
  • CVE-2021-36260
  • CVE-2021-4034
  • CVE-2022-40684
  • CVE-2022-28368
  • CVE-2024-1086
  • CVE-2023-7028
  • CVE-2026-0257

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