A security advisory published on Tuesday by Palo Alto Networks informs customers about the availability of patches for a critical vulnerability affecting the company’s Cortex XSOAR product.
During an internal security review, Palo Alto Networks discovered that its Cortex XSOAR security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) platform is affected by an improper authorization issue.
The flaw, tracked as CVE-2021-3044 and rated critical severity with a CVSS score of 9.8, can be exploited by a remote, unauthenticated attacker with network access to the Cortex XSOAR server to perform unauthorized actions through the REST API.
“This issue is not a remote code execution vulnerability. This issue enables an unauthorized attacker to perform actions on behalf of an active Cortex XSOAR integration, which includes running commands and automations in the Cortex XSOAR War Room,” Palo Alto Networks explained in its advisory.
The security hole affects XSOAR versions 6.1.0 and 6.2.0 on configurations with active API key integrations. Patches have been made available for both impacted versions. As for mitigations, the vendor recommends revoking all active integration API keys and restricting network access to the XSOAR server.
The company says it’s not aware of any attacks exploiting this vulnerability, but it has shared some information on how customers can find signs of exploitation.
Related: Palo Alto Networks Patches Serious DoS, Code Execution Flaws in PAN-OS
Related: Palo Alto Networks Patches Many Vulnerabilities in PAN-OS
Related: US Cyber Command: Foreign APTs Likely to Exploit New Palo Alto Networks Flaw
Related: Palo Alto Networks Patches Command Injection Vulnerabilities in PAN-OS

Eduard Kovacs (@EduardKovacs) is a contributing editor at SecurityWeek. He worked as a high school IT teacher for two years before starting a career in journalism as Softpedia’s security news reporter. Eduard holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial informatics and a master’s degree in computer techniques applied in electrical engineering.
More from Eduard Kovacs
- Unpatched Security Flaws Expose Water Pump Controllers to Remote Hacker Attacks
- 3CX Confirms Supply Chain Attack as Researchers Uncover Mac Component
- OpenSSL 1.1.1 Nears End of Life: Security Updates Only Until September 2023
- Google Links More iOS, Android Zero-Day Exploits to Spyware Vendors
- ChatGPT Data Breach Confirmed as Security Firm Warns of Vulnerable Component Exploitation
- Thousands Access Fake DDoS-for-Hire Websites Set Up by UK Police
- Intel Boasts Attack Surface Reduction With New 13th Gen Core vPro Platform
- Dole Says Employee Information Compromised in Ransomware Attack
Latest News
- Unpatched Security Flaws Expose Water Pump Controllers to Remote Hacker Attacks
- 500k Impacted by Data Breach at Debt Buyer NCB
- Chinese Cyberspies Use ‘Melofee’ Linux Malware for Stealthy Attacks
- Why Endpoint Resilience Matters
- Microsoft Cloud Vulnerability Led to Bing Search Hijacking, Exposure of Office 365 Data
- 3CX Confirms Supply Chain Attack as Researchers Uncover Mac Component
- UK Introduces Mass Surveillance With Online Safety Bill
- Musk, Scientists Call for Halt to AI Race Sparked by ChatGPT
