# What is CVE-2020-2033?

> CVE-2020-2033 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.3) in Globalprotect from Palo Alto Networks, published on 10 June 2020. It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 0.9%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2020-2033

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Plan it in. No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle.
- **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 16 out of 100 (Info); action: Track. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** Medium (CVSS 5.3 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** No, not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 0.9% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 10 June 2020
- **Record last updated:** 16 June 2020
- **Main product:** Globalprotect from Palo Alto Networks
- **Affected products:** 1

## What is CVE-2020-2033? In plain terms

An attacker has to be on the same local network without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data.

### The official description

When the pre-logon feature is enabled, a missing certification validation in Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect app can disclose the pre-logon authentication cookie to a man-in-the-middle attacker on the same local area network segment with the ability to manipulate ARP or to conduct ARP spoofing attacks. This allows the attacker to access the GlobalProtect Server as allowed by configured Security rules for the 'pre-login' user. This access may be limited compared to the network access of regular users. This issue affects: GlobalProtect app 5.0 versions earlier than GlobalProtect app 5.0.10 when the prelogon feature is enabled; GlobalProtect app 5.1 versions earlier than GlobalProtect app 5.1.4 when the prelogon feature is enabled.

### What kind of flaw is it?

- CWE-290: Authentication Bypass by Spoofing
- CWE-295: Improper Certificate Validation

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: On the same local network
- How hard it is to pull off: Hard: conditions must line up
- Login needed first: No login needed
- Does someone have to click: No, nobody has to do anything
- What an attacker gets: Can read data

Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`

## Is CVE-2020-2033 being exploited? Not that we know of

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 0.9%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 0.9%, 0.9%, 0.9%, 0.9%, 0.9%, 0.9%, 0.9%.

### Timeline

- 10 June 2020: Published
- 16 June 2020: Record last updated

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2020-2033 scores **16 out of 100 (Info)**, with the action "Track".

Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less:

- Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor
- How severe it is: strong factor
- How widely exposed it is: smaller factor
- Threat activity around it: smaller factor

85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.

## Who is affected by CVE-2020-2033?

The published record lists 1 product. Versions are as published: "5.0.0 to before 5.0.10" means from 5.0.0 up to, but not including, 5.0.10.

- [Globalprotect](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/paloaltonetworks/globalprotect) by [Palo Alto Networks](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/paloaltonetworks) (Application): 5.0.0 to before 5.0.10, 5.1.0 to before 5.1.4

## How do I fix CVE-2020-2033?

1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisory first in the list.
3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
4. **Keep an eye on it.** Track the product and we tell you as soon as we spot this flaw on the list of exploited flaws, or a jump in its exploit likelihood.

### References

- [security.paloaltonetworks.com](https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2020-2033) (Vendor advisory)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2020-2033?

CVE-2020-2033 is a medium-severity flaw in Globalprotect from Palo Alto Networks, published on 10 June 2020. An attacker has to be on the same local network without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data.

### How serious is CVE-2020-2033?

It scores 5.3 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is medium. Our risk score for CVE-2020-2033 is 16 out of 100, which is Info. Its action is "Track". No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle.

### Is CVE-2020-2033 being exploited?

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 0.9%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

### Which versions does CVE-2020-2033 affect?

For Globalprotect from Palo Alto Networks: 5.0.0 to before 5.0.10, 5.1.0 to before 5.1.4.

### How do I fix CVE-2020-2033?

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet.

## Does CVE-2020-2033 affect you?

Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you:

- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.

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