Critical severity · published May 13, 2026
CVE-2026-0257
PAN-OS: GlobalProtect Authentication Bypass Vulnerabilities
RansomwareIn wildKEV
9.1
CVSS
95%
EPSS
Yes
On KEV
Description
Authentication bypass vulnerabilities in the GlobalProtect portal and gateway of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS® software allows the attacker to bypass security restrictions and establish an unauthorized VPN connection. Panorama and Cloud NGFW are not impacted by these issues.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
None
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)95.0% · higher than 100% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildYes
CISA KEVListed May 29, 2026
Federal remediation dueJun 1, 2026
Ransomware campaign useKnown
Affected products
Which versions
PA
PAN-OS · Palo Alto Networks
12.1.0 before 12.1.7, 12.1.4-h6; 11.2.0 before 11.2.12, 11.2.10-h7, 11.2.7-h14, 11.2.4-h17; 11.1.0 before 11.1.15, 11.1.13-h5, 11.1.10-h25, 11.1.7-h6, 11.1.6-h32, 11.1.4-h33; 10.2.0 before 10.2.18-h6, 10.2.16-h7, 10.2.13-h21, 10.2.10-h36, 10.2.7-h34 · source: vendor, NVD, KEV
PA
Prisma Access · Palo Alto Networks
10.2.0 before 10.2.10-h36; 11.2.0 before 11.2.7-h13 · source: vendor, NVD
RA
Ruggedcom Ape1808 Firmware · Siemens
All versions, or not specified · source: NVD
RA
In the news
VulnerabilityHigh
Ransomware gangs have been exploiting Palo Alto GlobalProtect VPN flaw since June
Several ransomware groups are exploiting CVE-2026-0257, an authentication bypass in Palo Alto Networks’ PAN-OS GlobalProtect patched in May, to break into organizations in sectors ranging from healthcare and education to government and energy. CVE-2026-0257 stems from the firewalls relying on cookies without performing detailed validation and integrity checking, which allows remote, unauthenticated attackers to bypass security restrictions and establish an unauthorized VPN connection. The vulnerabilities affect the GlobalProtect portal and gateway of PAN’s physical and … More → The post Ransomware gangs have been exploiting Palo Alto GlobalProtect VPN flaw since June appeared first on Help Net Security .
Oct 21, 2026·Help Net Security
ThreatIntelHigh
Qilin and INC Ransomware Groups Exploit Palo Alto Networks Flaw to Bypass MFA
Palo Alto Networks has disclosed that it's continuing to observe exploitation of a now-patched security flaw impacting  PAN-OS and Prisma Access by ransomware actors. The activity relates to CVE-2026-0257 (CVSS score: 7.8), an authentication bypass flaw that could be exploited by bad actors to set up unauthorized VPN connections. It was patched by Palo Alto Networks in May 2026 and was
Oct 20, 2026·The Hacker News
VulnerabilityCritical
Qilin Ransomware Affiliates Abuse CVE-2026-0257 to Gain Unauthorized VPN Access
Qilin ransomware exploits the PAN-OS GlobalProtect flaw CVE-2026-0257 to gain unauthorized VPN access to unpatched networks. Arctic Wolf researchers warn that the Qilin ransomware gang is exploiting the critical PAN-OS GlobalProtect vulnerability CVE-2026-0257 to compromise corporate networks. CVE-2026-0257 is a PAN-OS authentication bypass vulnerability affecting GlobalProtect portals and gateways. Palo Alto Networks addressed the vulnerability on May […]
Jul 21, 2026·Security Affairs
BreachHigh
Qilin Ransomware Attackers Exploit PAN-OS Authentication Bypass for Initial Access
Threat actors have been observed exploiting a now-patched high-severity Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS vulnerability as an entry point to deploy Qilin (aka Agenda) ransomware on victim environments. Arctic Wolf Labs said it investigated multiple intrusions in June 2026 that began with the exploitation of CVE-2026-0257 (CVSS score: 7.8), an authentication bypass flaw affecting the portal and gateway
Jul 21, 2026·The Hacker News
VulnerabilityHigh
Palo Alto Warns of Exploitation of VPN Bypass Exploits (CVE-2026-0257) in PAN-OS Flaw
Palo Alto Networks warns that attackers are actively exploiting CVE-2026-0257, a PAN-OS flaw that lets unauthorized users bypass authentication and establish VPN connections. Palo Alto Networks has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2026-0257, a PAN-OS authentication bypass vulnerability affecting GlobalProtect portals and gateways. Palo Alto Networks addressed the vulnerability on May 13. Two weeks later, cybersecurity firm Rapid7 […]
Jun 15, 2026·Security Affairs
VulnerabilityHigh
Threat Brief: Active Exploitation of PAN-OS CVE-2026-0257
We include indicators of activity and mitigations for PAN-OS vulnerability CVE-2026-0257. The post Threat Brief: Active Exploitation of PAN-OS CVE-2026-0257 appeared first on Unit 42 .
Jun 5, 2026·Palo Alto Unit 42
Affected product
PA
PAN-OS
Palo Alto Networks
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