How severe is CVE-2020-2012?

CVE-2020-2012 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.

Is CVE-2020-2012 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (78th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-2012?

CVE-2020-2012 affects Paloaltonetworks Pan-os. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-2012?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2020-2012 published?

CVE-2020-2012 was published on 2020-05-13 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-2012

CVE-2020-2012 is a high-severity vulnerability in Paloaltonetworks Pan-os with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-611.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.5)
CVSS v2: 5.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (78th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-611
Affected product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-os
Published: 2020-05-13
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Improper restriction of XML external entity reference ('XXE') vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks Panorama management service allows remote unauthenticated attackers with network access to the Panorama management interface to read arbitrary files on the system. This issue affects: All versions of PAN-OS for Panorama 7.1 and 8.0; PAN-OS for Panorama 8.1 versions earlier than 8.1.13; PAN-OS for Panorama 9.0 versions earlier than 9.0.7.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-2012?: Improper restriction of XML external entity reference ('XXE') vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks Panorama management service allows remote unauthenticated attackers with network access to the Panorama management interface to read arbitrary files on the system. This issue affects: All versions of PAN-OS for Panorama 7.1 and 8.0; PAN-OS for Panorama 8.1 versions earlier than 8.1.13; PAN-OS for Panorama 9.0 versions earlier than 9.0.7.
How severe is CVE-2020-2012?: CVE-2020-2012 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.
Is CVE-2020-2012 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (78th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-2012?: CVE-2020-2012 affects Paloaltonetworks Pan-os. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-2012?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2020-2012 published?: CVE-2020-2012 was published on 2020-05-13 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2020-2012

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:o:paloaltonetworks:pan-os:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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