CVE-2026-0295: GlobalProtect macOS Privilege Escalation

CVE-2026-0295 Overview

CVE-2026-0295 is a race condition vulnerability in the Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect client on macOS. A locally authenticated, low-privileged attacker can exploit the flaw to escalate privileges to root. The issue is tracked as a concurrency defect under [CWE-362] (Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization).

The GlobalProtect app on Linux, Windows, iOS, Android, and Chrome OS is not affected. Exploitation requires local access and existing user-level privileges on the target macOS system. Successful exploitation grants full administrative control over the endpoint.

Critical Impact
A local attacker with standard user rights can win a race in the GlobalProtect client to obtain root privileges on macOS endpoints, undermining device integrity and any host-based security controls running below root.

Affected Products

Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect client on macOS
GlobalProtect app on Linux, Windows, iOS, Android, and Chrome OS is not affected
Refer to the Palo Alto Networks Advisory for version specifics

Discovery Timeline

2026-08-13 - CVE-2026-0295 published to NVD
2026-08-13 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-0295

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a race condition in the macOS build of the GlobalProtect client. GlobalProtect installs privileged helper components on macOS that perform system-level actions on behalf of the user-mode application. When these components handle shared resources without proper synchronization, an attacker who can trigger a specific operation at the right moment can influence the outcome to run code or perform actions in the privileged context.

The result is vertical privilege escalation from a standard local user account to root. Consult the Palo Alto Networks Advisory for authoritative details on the affected versions and the exact component involved.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper synchronization of a shared resource between concurrent operations in the GlobalProtect macOS client, classified as [CWE-362]. Race conditions of this class often involve a Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) gap, where a privileged process validates a resource such as a file path, symlink, or configuration handle and then acts on it after an attacker has replaced or modified the underlying object.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local. The attacker must already have a valid low-privileged account on the macOS host and the ability to run code. The attacker then repeatedly triggers the vulnerable GlobalProtect code path while manipulating the shared resource that the privileged component consumes.

Winning the race causes the privileged helper to operate on attacker-controlled input, yielding code execution or file system operations as root. No user interaction is required beyond the attacker's own actions, and the exploit does not require network access.

No public proof-of-concept exploit code is available at the time of publication. Refer to the Palo Alto Networks Advisory for technical specifics.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-0295

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected processes spawned as root with a parent process belonging to the GlobalProtect client or its helper daemons
Rapid, repeated invocation of GlobalProtect privileged operations by a single non-administrative user session
File system activity that alternates ownership, permissions, or symlink targets on paths accessed by GlobalProtect helper components

Detection Strategies

Monitor macOS Endpoint Security events (ES_EVENT_TYPE_NOTIFY_EXEC, ES_EVENT_TYPE_NOTIFY_RENAME) for suspicious child processes of GlobalProtect binaries running with elevated privileges
Alert on non-administrative users triggering high-frequency IPC or XPC calls to GlobalProtect privileged helpers
Correlate GlobalProtect client logs under /Library/Logs/PaloAltoNetworks/GlobalProtect/ with unexpected privilege transitions in the audit trail

Monitoring Recommendations

Baseline the normal behavior of the GlobalProtect helper on managed macOS fleets and alert on deviations such as new child binaries or unusual file writes
Track installations and versions of GlobalProtect across endpoints to confirm patch coverage and highlight outliers
Retain endpoint telemetry long enough to reconstruct race-condition attempts, which typically manifest as bursts of near-identical operations

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-0295

Immediate Actions Required

Inventory all macOS endpoints running the GlobalProtect client and identify versions affected by CVE-2026-0295 using the Palo Alto Networks Advisory
Upgrade affected macOS clients to the fixed release as specified by Palo Alto Networks
Restrict local interactive access on shared macOS systems to limit the population of users who could stage a local exploit
Review recent privileged process activity on macOS endpoints for signs of exploitation prior to patching

Patch Information

Palo Alto Networks has published fixed versions of the GlobalProtect client for macOS. Refer to the vendor's Palo Alto Networks Advisory for the specific fixed versions, download locations, and any deployment prerequisites. Non-macOS platforms (Linux, Windows, iOS, Android, Chrome OS) do not require an update for this CVE.

Workarounds

No vendor-supplied workaround replaces installing the fixed version; treat patching as the primary remediation
Enforce least privilege on macOS endpoints and remove unnecessary standard-user accounts from shared systems
Use mobile device management (MDM) tooling to accelerate uniform deployment of the patched GlobalProtect client across the fleet

bash

# Verify installed GlobalProtect version on macOS
/Applications/GlobalProtect.app/Contents/MacOS/GlobalProtect --version

# Alternatively, query the app bundle metadata
defaults read /Applications/GlobalProtect.app/Contents/Info CFBundleShortVersionString