Palo Alto GlobalProtect App: Privilege escalation to SYSTEM via OPSWAT SDK on Windows
Summary
The OPSWAT MetaDefender Endpoint Security SDK, used by the GlobalProtect app on Windows, contains an incorrect privilege management flaw. A locally authenticated non-administrative Windows user can escalate privileges to NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM, which gives full control of the endpoint. The attacker needs a local account on the affected system; no special configuration is required for exposure.
Affected
- MetaDefender Endpoint Security SDK 4.3.0 to before 4.3.4822 on Windows
- GlobalProtect App 6.3 on Windows: 6.3.0 through 6.3.3-h2
- GlobalProtect App 6.2 on Windows: 6.2.0 through 6.2.8-h3
- GlobalProtect App on macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and UWP: not affected according to the vendor
Fixed in
- MetaDefender Endpoint Security SDK 4.3.4822 and later on Windows
- GlobalProtect App 6.3 on Windows: upgrade to 6.3.3-h3 (6.3.3-711) or later
- GlobalProtect App 6.2 on Windows: upgrade to 6.2.8-h4 (6.2.8-317) or later
Workaround
Unknown. No known workarounds or mitigations exist for this issue.
Exploitation
- Palo Alto Networks is not aware of any malicious exploitation of this issue.
- Exploit maturity is listed as UNREPORTED; no public proof of concept was found.
- Not checked directly: CISA KEV listing.
Our recommendation
- Identify Windows endpoints running GlobalProtect and check the installed SDK and GlobalProtect versions.
- Update GlobalProtect on Windows to a version listed in the vendor advisory; verify the exact target version on the advisory page before rollout.
- Prioritise shared PCs and devices used by contractors, as a local foothold is the prerequisite.
- Monitor the advisory and NVD for changes in exploitation status.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Palo Alto Networks Security Advisory CVE-2026-0324 security.paloaltonetworks.com
- Palo Alto Networks Security Advisory CVE-2025-0131 (earlier SDK issue) security.paloaltonetworks.com
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 11 Nov 2026, 21:23.
Original description (NVD)
An incorrect privilege management vulnerability in the OPSWAT MetaDefender Endpoint Security SDK used by the Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect™ app on Windows devices allows a locally authenticated non-administrative Windows user to escalate their privileges to NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM.
NVD references (1)
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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