The network security provider has also cautioned that once an exploit combining the vulnerabilities becomes available, cyberattacks targeting them are likely to intensify. In light of this, it stated that it has a moderate to high level of confidence that a functioning exploit that links CVE-2024-0012 and CVE-2024-9474 is accessible to the general public, allowing for more extensive threat activity.

Additionally, it reported that it has seen both automated and human scanning activities, requiring users to secure access to the administration interface under suggested best practice deployment rules and apply the most recent updates as quickly as feasible. To stop external access from the internet, this specifically entails limiting access to only reliable internal IP addresses.

Palo Alto Networks said that because it only displays firewalls with management interfaces that are open to the internet, the number of compromised devices is lower than the organization claimed. Along with assisting impacted clients, it stated that less than 0.5% of its firewalls have an interface exposed to the internet and that most of its clients already secure their management interfaces and adhere to industry best practices.

Impact

• Privilege Escalation
• Unauthorized Access
• Security Bypass
• Code Execution

Indicators of Compromise

CVE

• CVE-2024-0012
• CVE-2024-9474

Affected Vendors

Remediation

• Refer to Palo Alto Networks Security Advisory for patch, upgrade, or suggested workaround information.
• Organizations must test their assets for the vulnerability mentioned above and apply the available security patch or mitigation steps as soon as possible.
• Implement multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to login processes.
• Regularly monitor network activity for any unusual behavior, as this may indicate that a cyberattack is underway.
• Organizations must stay vigilant and follow best practices for cybersecurity to protect their systems and data from potential threats. This includes regularly updating software and implementing strong access controls and monitoring tools.
• Develop a comprehensive incident response plan to respond effectively in case of a security breach or data leakage.
• Maintain regular backups of critical data and systems to ensure data recovery in case of a security incident.
• Adhere to security best practices, including the principle of least privilege, and ensure that users and applications have only the necessary permissions.
• Establish a robust patch management process to ensure that security patches are evaluated, tested, and applied promptly.
• Conduct security audits and assessments to evaluate the overall security posture of your systems and networks.
• Implement network segmentation to contain and isolate potential threats to limit their impact on critical systems.