Cisco and Palo Alto patched two actively exploited zero-days enabling root code execution on email and PAN-OS appliances.
Cisco and Palo Alto Networks patched two actively exploited zero-days that can lead to root-level code execution on security appliances, and CISA added both to the KEV catalog. CVE-2026-76519 in Cisco Secure Email Gateway can be exploited remotely without authentication through malicious email attachments. CVE-2026-0322 in the PAN-OS management interface requires network access and valid high-privilege credentials. Both need urgent remediation, but their exposure conditions differ.
CISA added both actively exploited flaws to the KEV catalog.
CVE-2026-76519 allows unauthenticated remote exploitation via email attachments.
CVE-2026-0322 needs network access and valid high-privilege credentials.
Both can lead to root-level code execution on security appliances.
Authenticated root RCE in Palo Alto PAN-OS management
CVE-2026-0322 is a code-injection flaw (CWE-94) in the management interface of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS that allows remote code execution. An authenticated attacker who can reach the management interface over the network can run arbitrary code with root privileges on the device. It affects PAN-OS on PA-Series and VM-Series firewalls and on Panorama (virtual and M-Series); Cloud NGFW and Prisma Access are not affected. Palo Alto notes that risk is reduced when management access is limited to trusted internal addresses, consistent with its deployment guidance. CISA added the issue to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-10-14, and reporting describes active exploitation including as a zero-day; ransomware use is listed as unknown and no public proof-of-concept is known. CVSS 4.0 is 8.6 (high), with high privileges required but low attack complexity and full impact on the vulnerable system.
Do: Restrict PAN-OS and Panorama management interfaces to trusted internal IP addresses only, and apply Palo Alto Networks patches per vendor guidance and CISA BOD 26-04. Because this is in the CISA KEV catalog with reported active exploitation, review management-plane access logs and host integrity for unexpected root-level activity, and follow CISA forensics triage requirements where the interface was reachable.
8.6
1%
KEV
Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS on PA-Series firewalls
Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS on VM-Series firewalls
Palo Alto Networks Panorama (virtual and M-Series)
largeon the order of 10,000–100,000+ PAN-OS and Panorama installations, with far fewer if management access is limited to trusted networks
Relative Path Traversal to Root RCE in Cisco Secure Email Gateway
CVE-2026-76519 is a critical relative path traversal flaw (CWE-23, CVSS 9.8) in the Advanced Malware Protection feature of Cisco Secure Email Gateway. When the file reputation service is enabled, an unauthenticated remote attacker can send an email with a crafted attachment that the gateway mishandles. A successful attack can write arbitrary files on the underlying operating system and execute commands as root. Cisco Secure Email Gateway deployments that use this AMP/file reputation feature are affected; specific version ranges are not listed in the source data. CISA added the CVE to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-10-14, Cisco has urged customers to patch and check for compromise, and a public proof-of-concept reference exists; ransomware use is listed as unknown.
Do: Apply Cisco's fixes or mitigations for CVE-2026-76519 immediately, and follow CISA BOD 26-04 (including forensics triage). Treat appliances with Advanced Malware Protection or file reputation enabled as potentially compromised: review for unexpected files and root-level command execution, and isolate or discontinue use if a vendor fix is unavailable.
Cisco and Palo Alto Networks have patched two actively exploited zero-day vulnerabilities that can lead to root-level code execution on security appliances. CISA has flagged both vulnerabilities as known exploited flaws, adding them to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
CVE-2026-76519 affects Cisco Secure Email Gateway and can be exploited remotely without authentication through malicious email attachments. CVE-2026-0322 affects the PAN-OS management interface and requires network access plus valid high-privilege credentials.
Both flaws require urgent remediation, but their attack paths and exposure conditions differ significantly.
CVE-2026-76519 is a relative path traversal vulnerability (CWE-23) in the Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) File Reputation attachment-processing path. Cisco rates it Critical with a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8.
According to Cisco’s CVE-2026-76519 security advisory, an unauthenticated attacker can send a crafted attachment through an affected gateway, write arbitrary files to the underlying operating system, and execute commands with root privileges.
SOCRadar Vulnerability Intelligence card for CVE-2026-76519
A Secure Email Gateway is vulnerable when:
AMP File Reputation is enabled for an incoming or outgoing mail policy.
Content Scanner Tools is earlier than 25.3.0.5525.
AsyncOS
Fixed Release
15.5
15.5.5-014
16.0
Migrate to a fixed release
16.5
16.5.0-780
Updating Content Scanner Tools to 25.3.0.5525 or later also fixes the issue without requiring a restart. Administrators can verify the package with contentscannerstatus.
Secure Email and Web Manager and Secure Web Appliance are not affected. Cisco Secure Email Cloud already has the corrected package deployed.
Cisco also warns that root compromise may expose private SSH keys used between cluster members, potentially putting other Secure Email Gateway appliances in the same cluster at risk.
CVE-2026-0322: Palo Alto PAN-OS Zero-Day
CVE-2026-0322 is a code injection vulnerability (CWE-94) in the PAN-OS management interface.
Palo Alto Networks’ CVE-2026-0322 advisory states that an authenticated attacker with management-interface access and sufficiently high privileges can execute arbitrary code with root privileges.
Palo Alto Networks rates the flaw High with a CVSS 4.0 score of 8.6 and labels its exploit maturity ATTACKED.
PAN-OS Branch
Fixed Release
12.2
12.2.4+
12.1
Applicable 12.1 fixed hotfix
11.2
Applicable 11.2 fixed hotfix
11.1
Applicable 11.1 fixed hotfix
10.2
Applicable 10.2 fixed hotfix
Unsupported releases should move to a supported fixed branch. Cloud NGFW and Prisma Access are not affected.
Palo Alto Networks reported very limited exploitation and associated activity with:
66.42.72[.]14
208.83.239[.]114
149.248.47[.]234
These addresses are hunting leads, not proof that every connection represents successful exploitation.
How Do the Two Zero-Days Differ?
The Cisco vulnerability is unauthenticated and email-delivered when vulnerable File Reputation processing is enabled.
The PAN-OS flaw requires high-privilege credentials and access to the management interface. This reduces opportunistic exposure but remains serious where administrative credentials have been stolen or management interfaces are externally reachable.
Both can ultimately provide root-level execution on infrastructure responsible for email or network security.
Covered U.S. federal agencies must remediate both vulnerabilities by October 17, 2026. The short deadline reflects the confirmed exploitation and potential impact of compromise.
Organizations outside the federal government should also treat KEV inclusion as a strong prioritization signal.
Track the Exploited Zero-Days with SOCRadar
Because both vulnerabilities are already being exploited, remediation should focus first on which affected security appliances are exposed and still vulnerable.
SOCRadar’s **Cyber Threat Intelligence**module can help teams follow CVE-2026-76519 and CVE-2026-0322 for exploitation updates, CISA KEV status, indicators, and remediation changes. Vulnerability Intelligence adds technical and risk context as new information emerges.
Combined with Attack Surface Management, organizations can identify externally exposed Cisco Secure Email Gateway and PAN-OS assets and prioritize systems where vulnerable software, risky configurations, and network exposure overlap.
SOCRadar’s Vulnerability Intelligence
What Should Defenders Do?
For Cisco Secure Email Gateway, update Content Scanner Tools to 25.3.0.5525 or later or install the applicable fixed AsyncOS release. Cisco states that no workaround addresses the vulnerability.
Review system_logs for System Security messages and correlate them with external firewall and network telemetry. If one cluster member is compromised, Cisco recommends restoring every cluster member because shared SSH keys may have been exposed.
For PAN-OS, install the appropriate fixed release and restrict management interface access to trusted internal IP addresses, preferably through a controlled jump box.
Threat Prevention customers can use Threat IDs 510046 and 510047 for limited coverage, but Palo Alto Networks states that this does not replace upgrading.
For both zero-days, review historical authentication, configuration, network, and administrative activity from the pre-patch exposure period rather than assuming that installing the update proves the appliance was never compromised.
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