GlobalProtect App: Privilege Escalation Vulnerability When Using Connect Before Logon With SAML Authentication

An improper handling of exceptional conditions vulnerability exists within the Connect Before Logon feature of the Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect app when the feature is configured to use SAML authentication that enables a local attacker to escalate to SYSTEM or root privileges when authenticating with Connect Before Logon under certain circumstances.

Work around:
Using non-SAML authentication methods in the GlobalProtect Connect Before Logon feature removes the impact of this issue.

More information on Connect Before Logon authentication modes is available here:
https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/globalprotect/5-2/globalprotect-app-new-features/new-features-released-in-gp-app/connect-before-logon