How severe is CVE-2021-3046?

CVE-2021-3046 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.8, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with high attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability none.

Is CVE-2021-3046 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (62nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-3046?

CVE-2021-3046 affects Paloaltonetworks Pan-os. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-3046?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2021-3046 published?

CVE-2021-3046 was published on 2021-08-11 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2021-3046

CVE-2021-3046 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Paloaltonetworks Pan-os with a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.8. 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-287.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 6.8)
CVSS v2: 4.3
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (62nd percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-287
Affected product: Paloaltonetworks Pan-os
Published: 2021-08-11
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

An improper authentication vulnerability exists in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software that enables a SAML authenticated attacker to impersonate any other user in the GlobalProtect Portal and GlobalProtect Gateway when they are configured to use SAML authentication. This issue impacts: PAN-OS 8.1 versions earlier than PAN-OS 8.1.19; PAN-OS 9.0 versions earlier than PAN-OS 9.0.14; PAN-OS 9.1 versions earlier than PAN-OS 9.1.9; PAN-OS 10.0 versions earlier than PAN-OS 10.0.5. PAN-OS 10.1 versions are not impacted.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-3046?: An improper authentication vulnerability exists in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software that enables a SAML authenticated attacker to impersonate any other user in the GlobalProtect Portal and GlobalProtect Gateway when they are configured to use SAML authentication. This issue impacts: PAN-OS 8.1 versions earlier than PAN-OS 8.1.19; PAN-OS 9.0 versions earlier than PAN-OS 9.0.14; PAN-OS 9.1 versions earlier than PAN-OS 9.1.9; PAN-OS 10.0 versions earlier than PAN-OS 10.0.5. PAN-OS 10.1 versions are not impacted.
How severe is CVE-2021-3046?: CVE-2021-3046 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.8, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with high attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability none.
Is CVE-2021-3046 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (62nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-3046?: CVE-2021-3046 affects Paloaltonetworks Pan-os. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-3046?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2021-3046 published?: CVE-2021-3046 was published on 2021-08-11 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2021-3046

Affected products (1)

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

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Other CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) vulnerabilities

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CVE-2026-10611 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): An authentication bypass vulnerability exists in MISP when LDAP mixed authentication is enabled with OTP enforcement.…
CVE-2026-47280 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Improper authentication in Azure Resource Manager (ARM) allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges over a…
CVE-2026-42822 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Improper authentication in Azure Local Disconnected Operations allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges…
CVE-2026-20182 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): May 2026: This security advisory provides the details and fix information for a vulnerability that was discovered and…

Browse all CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) vulnerabilities →