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CyberArk PSM EUVDEUVD-2026-36365

| CVE-2026-45171 HIGH
Path Traversal (CWE-22)
2026-06-11 palo_alto GHSA-g3c5-h5qv-px3q
8.7
CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: palo_alto
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Obtain low-privileged PSM credentials
  2. Delivery
    Authenticate to PSM service
  3. Exploit
    Submit traversal-laden path input
  4. Execution
    Write payload via misconfigured folder ACLs
  5. Persist
    Trigger execution in PSM context
  6. Impact
    Pivot to vault and managed targets

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Path canonicalization, traversal prevention
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Discovery, Collection

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

Attacker must hold valid credentials for a low-privileged account on CyberArk PSM (PAM Self-Hosted) and be able to reach the PSM service over the network; the deployment must be running PSM on the 14.0.x, 14.2.x, 14.6.x, or 15.0.x branch below the respective fixed builds (14.0.5 / 14.2.5 / 14.6.3 / 15.0.3) with the default folder-permission layout that the advisory describes as improperly configured. No user interaction and no MFA/admin role is required (PR:L, UI:N, AT:N), but exploitation is bounded by network reachability of PSM and by whether the organisation has already hardened the affected working-directory ACLs as a defence-in-depth measure.

Impact

The CVSS 4.0 vector AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N with VC:H/VI:H/VA:H reflects a network-reachable, low-complexity flaw exploitable by an authenticated low-privileged user with full CIA impact on the vulnerable system - and the U:Amber + RE:M tags from the vendor signal moderate response urgency on a partner-amber distribution. No EPSS, KEV, or SSVC data is provided, and no public exploit identified at time of analysis, so this is not yet evidence of widespread opportunistic exploitation. Real-world risk is still elevated because PSM sits at the heart of privileged access: any low-privileged user account on the PSM - including a compromised vendor or operator account - becomes a stepping stone to vaulted credentials, so prioritization should be driven by PSM's blast radius rather than by exploit-market signals.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker phishes or otherwise obtains credentials of a low-privileged PSM user (for example a help-desk operator) and authenticates to the PSM web interface; they then submit a request whose path-like parameter contains traversal sequences that, combined with the overly-permissive folder ACLs, lets them drop or reference a payload in a directory the PSM service later executes from. With code running in the PSM service context they pivot to vaulted credentials and connected targets, effectively turning a low-privileged PAM account into full control of the privileged-access plane. No public exploit identified at time of analysis.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv3 – Jun 12, 2026

Authenticated arbitrary code execution in CyberArk Privileged Session Manager (PSM) versions prior to 15.0.3, 14.6.3, 14.2.5, and 14.0.5 allows low-privileged users to escape intended boundaries through incomplete input validation combined with misconfigured folder permissions. Because PSM brokers privileged sessions to critical infrastructure, code execution here directly threatens vaulted credentials and downstream targets, making this a high-impact issue despite requiring authentication. No public exploit identified at time of analysis, but the CVSS 4.0 base score of 8.7 reflects the severity of compromising a PAM component.

Earlier versions of this analysis (2)
v2 Jun 12, 2026 - 05:28 cvss changed CVSS 8.7

Authenticated arbitrary code execution in CyberArk Privileged Session Manager (PSM) versions prior to 15.0.3, 14.6.3, 14.2.5, and 14.0.5 allows a low-privileged user to escape input validation and abuse improperly configured folder permissions to run code in the PSM context. The flaw is tracked under CyberArk advisories CA26-17/CA26-18, carries a CVSS 4.0 score of 8.7, and currently has no public exploit identified at time of analysis. Because PSM brokers privileged sessions to high-value targets, code execution here is a direct path to compromise of the broader privileged-access tier.

v1 Jun 11, 2026 - 22:31 CVSS 9.3

Local privilege escalation to arbitrary code execution in CyberArk Privileged Session Manager (PSM) versions prior to 15.0.3, 14.6.3, 14.2.5, and 14.0.5 allows an authenticated low-privileged user to abuse incomplete input validation combined with weak folder permissions to run arbitrary code. The flaw is tracked under CyberArk Security Bulletins CA26-17 and CA26-18 and carries a CVSS 4.0 base score of 9.3 driven by high impact on the vulnerable system and a scope-changing impact on subsequent systems. No public exploit identified at time of analysis and the issue is not listed in CISA KEV.

RemediationAI

Vendor-released patch: upgrade PSM to 15.0.3, 14.6.3, 14.2.5, or 14.0.5 on the corresponding branch per CyberArk Security Bulletins CA26-17 and CA26-18, using the release notes linked above as the authoritative source for build numbers. Until patches can be deployed, tighten NTFS/ACL permissions on PSM installation and recordings directories so that the PSM service account is the only writer, audit and shrink the population of low-privileged PSM users (especially shared or vendor accounts), and restrict network access to the PSM web/RDP front end to a small jump-host range - these controls reduce who can reach the vulnerable input paths but do not eliminate the traversal sink, and over-tightening recording folder ACLs can break session-recording playback, so test before rolling out. Increase monitoring on PSM hosts for unexpected child processes of the PSM service and for file writes outside the standard recordings/working paths.

Affected VersionsENISA

Privileged Session Manager, Vault 14.0 <14.0.5
Privileged Session Manager, Vault 14.6 <14.6.3
Privileged Session Manager, Vault 14.2 <14.2.5
Privileged Session Manager, Vault 15.0 <15.0.3

Affected Packages

euvd privileged_session_manager_vault fix: 14.0.5, 14.2.5, 14.6.3, 15.0.3

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

CyberArk PSM is the session-brokering component of the CyberArk Privileged Access Management (PAM) Self-Hosted suite (CPE cpe:2.3:a:cyberark_software...:privileged_session_manager,_vault), used to proxy and record privileged sessions to managed targets. The root cause maps to CWE-22 (Path Traversal): the application accepts user-controlled path-like input without sufficient canonicalization, and the underlying filesystem ACLs on PSM working folders grant write access where they should not. The combination means an attacker who can authenticate as a low-privileged PSM user can place or reference files outside of intended directories, ultimately reaching a code-execution sink - a classic path-traversal-to-RCE chain reported by Palo Alto Networks (now the parent of CyberArk) and tracked as CyberArk advisories CA26-17 and CA26-18.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (palo_alto) PRIMARY 8.7 CRITICAL
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/RE:M/U:Amber
vuln.today AI 8.8 HIGH

Network-reachable PSM service exploitable by any low-privileged authenticated user (PR:L) with no user interaction, yielding code execution and full CIA impact on the PSM host.

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (palo_alto).

CVSS VectorVendor: palo_alto

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
None
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Vulnerable system: Confidentiality
High
Vulnerable system: Integrity
High
Vulnerable system: Availability
High
Subsequent system: Confidentiality
None
Subsequent system: Integrity
None
Subsequent system: Availability
None

Lifecycle Timeline

7
Analysis Updated
Jun 12, 2026 - 05:28 vuln.today
v3 - CVSS changed
Analysis Updated
Jun 12, 2026 - 05:28 vuln.today
v2 - CVSS changed
Severity Changed
Jun 12, 2026 - 05:22 NVD
CRITICAL HIGH
CVSS changed
Jun 12, 2026 - 05:22 NVD
9.3 (CRITICAL) 8.7 (HIGH)
Severity Changed
Jun 12, 2026 - 05:22 NVD
CRITICAL HIGH
CVSS changed
Jun 12, 2026 - 05:22 NVD
9.3 (CRITICAL) 8.7 (HIGH)
Patch available
Jun 12, 2026 - 02:01 EUVD

DescriptionCVE.org

Incomplete input validation and improperly configured folder permissions within Idira Privileged Session Manager (PSM) versions prior to 15.0.3, 14.6.3, 14.2.5, and 14.0.5, an authenticated, low-privileged user could potentially execute arbitrary code. CyberArk Security Bulletin: CA26-17 and CA26-18

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CyberArk Privileged Session Manager (CVSS 8.7) contains an authenticated code execution vulnerability in versions prior to 15.0.3, 14.6.3, 14.2.5, and 14.0.5 that allows low-privileged users to bypass security controls and access protected credentials. Since PSM manages access to critical infrastructure systems, successful exploitation grants attackers direct access to production environment credentials and the ability to operate within protected systems under your organization's management. This vulnerability requires immediate remediation as a foundational component of your privileged access control infrastructure is compromised.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.1%
Top 84% exploitable
Social Media
1
Sightings
Data Quality
6 sources
Confidence: High

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.1%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Scheduled
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

44
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +44
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Path traversal exploits occur when applications use user-controlled input to construct file system paths without proper validation.

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

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