title: Cortex XDR Agent: Improper control of loaded DLL leads to local privilege escalation
description: A local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Agent on the Windows platform that allows an authenticated local Windows user to execute programs with SYSTEM privileges. This requires the user to have the privilege to create files in the Windows root directory. This issue impacts: All versions of Cortex XDR Agent 7.1 with content update 149 and earlier versions; All versions of Cortex XDR Agent 7.2 with content update 149 and earlier versions.
problem types: CWE-427 Uncontrolled Search Path Element
affected:
{
platforms: Windows
product: Cortex XDR Agent
vendor: Palo Alto Networks
versions:
status: unaffected, version: 7.1.* with content update 150
status: affected, version: 7.1.* without content update 150
status: unaffected, version: 7.2.* with content update 150
status: affected, version: 7.2.* without content update 150
}
{
platforms: Windows
product: Cortex XDR Agent
vendor: Palo Alto Networks
versions:
status: unaffected, version: 6.1.* with latest content
status: unaffected, version: 7.0.* with latest content
}
metrics:
cvssV3_1: [
attackComplexity: LOW
attackVector: LOCAL
availabilityImpact: HIGH
baseScore: 7.8
baseSeverity: HIGH
confidentialityImpact: HIGH
integrityImpact: HIGH
privilegesRequired: LOW
scope: UNCHANGED
userInteraction: NONE
vectorString: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
version: 3.1
]
solutions: Cortex XDR Agent content update version 150 and all later content update versions resolve this issue for Cortex XDR Agent 7.1 and Cortex XDR Agent 7.2 versions.
Cortex XDR Agent 6.1 and Cortex XDR Agent 7.0 are not impacted with the latest content update.
Content updates are automatically applied for the agent. A Cortex XDR Agent version upgrade is not required to resolve this issue.
workarounds: This issue is mitigated by preventing local authenticated Windows users from creating files in the Windows root directory such as C:\.