CVE-2022-0015
Cortex XDR Agent: An Uncontrolled Search Path Element Leads to Local Privilege Escalation (PE) Vulnerability
A local privilege escalation (PE) vulnerability exists in the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR agent that enables an authenticated local user to execute programs with elevated privileges. This issue impacts: Cortex XDR agent 5.0 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 5.0.12; Cortex XDR agent 6.1 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 6.1.9.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
7.8
Cortex XDR Agent: An Uncontrolled Search Path Element Leads to Local Privilege Escalation (PE) Vulnerability
A local privilege escalation (PE) vulnerability exists in the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR agent that enables an authenticated local user to execute programs with elevated privileges. This issue impacts: Cortex XDR agent 5.0 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 5.0.12; Cortex XDR agent 6.1 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 6.1.9.
- Record
CVE-2022-0015- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-427
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-15236
7.8
A local privilege escalation (PE) vulnerability exists in the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR agent that enables an authenticated local user to execute programs with elevated privileges. This issue impacts: Cortex XDR agent 5.0 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 5.0.12; Cortex XDR agent 6.1 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 6.1.9.
- Record
EUVD-2022-15236- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-68c7-78j8-wc59 No score
A local privilege escalation (PE) vulnerability exists in the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR agent...
A local privilege escalation (PE) vulnerability exists in the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR agent that enables an authenticated local user to execute programs with elevated privileges. This issue impacts: Cortex XDR agent 5.0 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 5.0.12; Cortex XDR agent 6.1 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 6.1.9.
- Record
GHSA-68c7-78j8-wc59- Weakness
- CWE-427
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
7.8
A local privilege escalation (PE) vulnerability exists in the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR agent that enables an authenticated local user to execute programs with elevated privileges. This issue impacts: Cortex XDR agent 5.0 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 5.0.12; Cortex XDR agent 6.1 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 6.1.9.
- Record
CVE-2022-0015- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 4.6 Medium
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-427
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases, published | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2022-0015 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) in Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xdr Agent, published January 12, 2022. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.24%, the 14th percentile. No source names a fixed version.