PALO ALTO Security Advisory
Published Date: Not specified
CVE: CVE-2026-0295
Advisory Summary
### 🔎▌CVE-2026-0295 — GlobalProtect App (macOS) Local Privilege Escalation via Race Condition (Severity: MEDIUM)
- Palo Alto Networks disclosed CVE-2026-0295, a local privilege escalation issue affecting the GlobalProtect app on macOS.
- The root cause is a race condition, which can allow an attacker with local access to potentially elevate privileges.
- While labeled MEDIUM, local escalation can be high-impact in enterprise environments—especially on developer endpoints, managed macOS fleets, or systems where untrusted local users/processes may exist.
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- Local attacker scenario: adversary already has a foothold as a local user (malware, stolen credentials, rogue insider, or compromised low-privilege account).
- Endpoints with GlobalProtect installed and running (common in VPN/remote access deployments).
- Environments with weaker local access controls (shared machines, insufficient OS hardening, overly permissive admin delegation).
- Mac setups where EDR visibility or privilege boundaries are not tightly enforced.
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- GlobalProtect app for macOS installations.
- Customer environments should confirm which agent versions are deployed and whether GlobalProtect app auto-updates are enabled or blocked by policy.
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- Apply the fix version referenced by Palo Alto Networks for CVE-2026-0295.
- If you manage macOS via MDM, push the updated package via the standard software distribution workflow and enforce compliance.
- Tighten macOS local user permissions (especially for non-admin users).
- Validate least-privilege on accounts that can run or influence GlobalProtect-related processes.
- Ensure EDR/macOS logging is active for:
- privilege changes
- suspicious process trees related to VPN client execution flows
- Review recent alerts for abnormal behavior on endpoints with GlobalProtect installed.
- After rollout, confirm the endpoint agent version aligns with the secured release and that VPN connectivity is functioning normally.
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- Race condition bugs can be difficult to exploit reliably, but once weaponized, they can bypass assumptions about privilege separation.
- Given this is local escalation, incident response should prioritize:
- detecting local compromise indicators
- limiting credential reuse
- improving lateral movement controls
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- Incorporate this CVE into your patch compliance tracking and endpoint risk scoring for macOS fleets.
- Coordinate with identity/endpoint teams to ensure local privilege boundaries align with your threat model and that GlobalProtect is not lagging behind recommended versions.
Reference: Vendor Advisory