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CVE-2022-0012: Cortex XDR Agent: Local Arbitrary File Deletion Vulnerability

• Severity: high (CVSS 7.1 v3.1)
• Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
• EPSS: 0.2% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
• Public exploit or detection template: none known
• Published: 2022-01-12 · updated 2026-06-17
• Weakness: CWE-59

Description

An improper link resolution before file access vulnerability exists in the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR agent on Windows platforms that enables a local user to delete arbitrary system files and impact the system integrity or cause a denial of service condition. 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; Cortex XDR agent 7.2 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 7.2.4; Cortex XDR agent 7.3 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 7.3.2.

Affected products

• Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Agent: from 5.0 before 5.0.12; from 6.1 before 6.1.9; from 7.2 before 7.2.4; from 7.3 before 7.3.2 — fixed in 5.0.12, 6.1.9, 7.2.4, 7.3.2
• Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Agent: from 5.0 before 5.0.12; from 7.2 before 7.2.4; from 7.3 before 7.3.2; from 6.1 before 6.1.9 — fixed in 5.0.12, 7.2.4, 7.3.2, 6.1.9

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Agent 5.0.12, 6.1.9, 7.2.4, 7.3.2; Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Agent 5.0.12, 7.2.4, 7.3.2, 6.1.9. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

• https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2022-0012
• https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2022-0012

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