CVE-2026-0251

GlobalProtect App: Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerabilities

Published May 13, 2026 CVSS 4.0 · 5.9 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed

Description

Multiple local privilege escalation vulnerabilities in the Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect™ app allow a local user to escalate their privileges to NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM on Windows and root on macOS and Linux. This enables a non-administrative user to execute arbitrary commands with administrative privileges.

The GlobalProtect app on iOS, Android, Chrome OS and GlobalProtect UWP app are not affected.

Analysis

Technical impact

The vulnerabilities are local privilege escalation weaknesses in the GlobalProtect application, classified as CWE‑426, that let a non‑administrative user gain full NT AUTHORITY\\SYSTEM on Windows or root on macOS and Linux. Upon elevation the user can run arbitrary commands with administrative privileges, potentially compromising the entire host.

Affected Systems

Affected products are Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect App for Windows, macOS and Linux. Versions 6.0.0 through 6.0.12, 6.2.0 through 6.2.8‑h9, and 6.3.0 through 6.3.3‑h8 on those operating systems are vulnerable. The Android, Chrome OS, iOS and UWP versions are not affected.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score of 5.9 indicates a moderate severity. No exploit probability data is available and the vulnerability is not in CISA’s KEV catalog. The likely attack vector is local access; a user with limited privileges on the machine must install or run the GlobalProtect client to exploit the flaw.

Affected Products

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions

Palo Alto Networks

GlobalProtect App

unaffected

Version	Status	Constraints
`6.3.0`	affected	< 6.3.3-h9 (6.3.3-999)
`6.2.0`	affected	< 6.2.8-h10 (6.2.8-948)
`6.0.0`	affected	< 6.0.13

Palo Alto Networks

GlobalProtect App

unaffected

Version	Status	Constraints
`6.3.0`	affected	< 6.3.3-h9 (6.3.3-999)
`6.2.0`	affected	< 6.2.8-h10 (6.2.8-948)
`6.0.0`	affected	< 6.0.13

Palo Alto Networks

GlobalProtect App

unaffected

Version	Status	Constraints
`6.3.0`	affected	< 6.3.3-h2 (6.3.3-42)
`6.0.0`	affected	< 6.0.11

Palo Alto Networks

Global Protect App

unaffected

Version	Status	Constraints
`All`	unaffected	—

Configuration 1 [-]

OR	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect::::::linux::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect::::::macos::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect::::::windows::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect::::::macos::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect::::::windows::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect::::::linux::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect::::::macos::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect::::::windows::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.2.8:-::::macos::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.2.8:-::::windows::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.2.8:h1::::macos::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.2.8:h7::::macos::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.2.8:h7::::windows::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:-::::linux::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:-::::macos::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:-::::windows::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:h1::::linux::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:h1::::macos::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:h1::::windows::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:h2::::macos::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:h2::::windows::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:h3::::macos::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:h3::::windows::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:h4::::macos::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:h4::::windows::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:h6::::macos::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:h6::::windows::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:h7::::macos::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:h7::::windows::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:h8::::macos::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:h8::::windows::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:h9::::macos::*
	cpe:2.3:a:paloaltonetworks:globalprotect:6.3.3:h9::::windows::*

No data.

Vendor Product Versions

Palo Alto Networks

Globalprotect App

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[6.3.0,6.3.3-h9)`	affected	semver	['windows']
`[6.2.0,6.2.8-h10)`	affected	semver	['windows']
`[6.0.0,6.0.13)`	affected	semver	['windows']

Palo Alto Networks

Globalprotect App

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[6.3.0,6.3.3-h9)`	affected	semver	['macos']
`[6.2.0,6.2.8-h10)`	affected	semver	['macos']
`[6.0.0,6.0.13)`	affected	semver	['macos']

Palo Alto Networks

Globalprotect App

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[6.3.0,6.3.3-h2)`	affected	semver	['linux']
`[6.0.0,6.0.11)`	affected	semver	['linux']

Palo Alto Networks

Globalprotect App

Version	Status	Scheme	Platform
`[0,*]`	unaffected	generic	['android', 'chromeos', 'ios', 'uwp']

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

Upgrade the Windows GlobalProtect client to the latest supported version (at minimum 6.0.13 for the 6.0 series, 6.2.8‑h10 for the 6.2 series, or 6.3.3‑h9 for the 6.3 series).
Upgrade the macOS GlobalProtect client to the latest supported version (at minimum 6.0.13 for the 6.0 series, 6.2.8‑h10 for the 6.2 series, or 6.3.3‑h9 for the 6.3 series).
Upgrade the Linux GlobalProtect client 6.0 series to at least version 6.0.11.
Upgrade the Linux GlobalProtect client 6.2 series to at least version 6.3.3-h2.
Upgrade the Linux GlobalProtect client 6.3 series to at least version 6.3.3-h2.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on May 13, 2026 at 20:36 UTC.

Tracking

Advisories

No advisories available

Metrics

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Attack Requirements None

User Interaction None

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact High

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact High

Vulnerable System Availability Impact High

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

Attack Vector Local

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required Low

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact High

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

Exploit prediction score: < 1% (0.185% probability within 30 days)

Exploitation none

Automatable no

Technical Impact total

References

Link	Providers
https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2026-0251

History

May 13, 2026 7:30 PM Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Metrics		ssvc `{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}`

May 13, 2026 6:30 PM Description updated. Title updated. First appearance in the feed. Weaknesses updated. Affected versions updated. Affected vendors updated. Added references. Scoring metrics updated View changes

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
Description		Multiple local privilege escalation vulnerabilities in the Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect™ app allow a local user to escalate their privileges to NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM on Windows and root on macOS and Linux. This enables a non-administrative user to execute arbitrary commands with administrative privileges. The GlobalProtect app on iOS, Android, Chrome OS and GlobalProtect UWP app are not affected.
Title		GlobalProtect App: Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerabilities
First Time appeared		Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks globalprotect App
Weaknesses		CWE-426
CPEs		cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app::::::Linux::* cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app::::::Windows::* cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app::::::macOS::* cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.0:::::Linux:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.0:::::Windows:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.0:::::macOS:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.10:::::Linux:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.10:::::Windows:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.10:::::macOS:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.11:::::Linux:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.11:::::Windows:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.11:::::macOS:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.12:::::Linux:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.12:::::Windows:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.12:::::macOS:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.1:::::Linux:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.1:::::Windows:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.1:::::macOS:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.2:::::Linux:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.2:::::Windows:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.2:::::macOS:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.3:::::Linux:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.3:::::Windows:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.3:::::macOS:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.4:::::Linux:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.4:::::Windows:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.4:::::macOS:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.5:::::Linux:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.5:::::Windows:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.5:::::macOS:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.6:::::Linux:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.6:::::Windows:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.6:::::macOS:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.7:::::Linux:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.7:::::Windows:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.7:::::macOS:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.8:::::Linux:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.8:::::Windows:: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:globalprotect_app:6.0.8:::::macOS::
Vendors & Products		Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks globalprotect App
References		https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2026-0251
Metrics		cvssV4_0 `{'score': 5.9, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/AU:N/R:U/V:D/RE:M/U:Amber'}`