Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessCraft malicious IaC config exploiting CWE-829
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DeliveryIntroduce file into repository via PR or dependency
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ExploitVictim CI/CD pipeline triggers Checkov scan
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ExecutionCheckov includes untrusted code from scanned file
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PersistPayload executes in CI/CD runner context
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ImpactCloud credentials and pipeline secrets exfiltrated
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A08:2025 - Software or Data Integrity Failures
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Trusted source inclusion only
|
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires that a Checkov scan be executed against a directory that contains at least one attacker-controlled IaC configuration file (e.g., Terraform .tf, Kubernetes YAML, CloudFormation template, Dockerfile). The attacker must be able to place or influence a file in the scanned directory - achievable via pull requests to shared repositories, dependency confusion, or direct filesystem access in shared environments. The victim (human developer or CI/CD automation) must initiate a Checkov scan against that directory (UI:P - passive interaction). No authentication to the victim system is required of the attacker. Exploitation is limited to scenarios where Checkov processes untrusted file content; scans of internally authored, access-controlled IaC are not affected. The vulnerable system's direct impact is low (VI:L only), but subsequent CI/CD systems with cloud credentials mounted are exposed to full compromise (SC:H/SI:H/SA:H). |
| Impact | The provided CVSS 4.0 base score of 2.4 appears to incorporate threat metrics (E:U - no known exploits) and supplemental factors (AU:N - not automatable) that substantially deflate the number; the underlying base vector metrics, particularly SC:H/SI:H/SA:H, represent a critical-severity impact on CI/CD pipeline systems. Real-world risk is better understood as a targeted supply-chain attack: an adversary who can introduce a malicious IaC file into a repository that a victim's Checkov scan will process (e.g., via a pull request to an open-source project, a dependency confusion attack, or a compromised dependency) can achieve code execution within the CI/CD runner. The privilege escalation path from 'attacker can submit a file' to 'attacker compromises cloud infrastructure' is realistic in DevSecOps environments. No public exploit has been identified (E:U) and Palo Alto rates this as 'Amber' urgency. EPSS data is not provided; KEV status is negative. Despite the low numeric score, any organization running Checkov against untrusted or community-sourced IaC content in an automated pipeline should treat this as elevated risk. No fix version is specified in the available data - only the advisory reference is confirmed. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker submits a pull request to an open-source infrastructure repository, embedding a malicious Terraform or Kubernetes manifest designed to trigger CWE-829 code inclusion when processed by Checkov. The target organization's CI/CD pipeline automatically runs |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Sep 10, 2026
Arbitrary code execution in Palo Alto Networks Checkov - the Prisma Cloud IaC static-analysis scanner - triggers when the tool scans a directory containing an attacker-crafted configuration file. The vulnerability is rooted in CWE-829 (Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere): Checkov loads and evaluates IaC configuration files without sufficient isolation, allowing embedded attacker-controlled logic to execute in the scanner's runtime context. The most consequential attack surface is CI/CD pipelines, where Checkov runs automated scans with access to cloud credentials and secrets, making successful exploitation a pathway to subsequent-system compromise even though the primary vulnerable-system impact is limited. No public exploit code has been identified and Palo Alto rates exploit maturity as unreported (E:U).
RemediationAI
Consult the Palo Alto Networks security advisory at https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2026-0303 for the official patch or fixed version - no specific remediation version was provided in the available data, so 'Patch available per vendor advisory' is the most that can be confirmed. As an interim compensating control, restrict Checkov scans to directories sourced exclusively from trusted, access-controlled repositories, and avoid scanning pull requests or forks from untrusted contributors in automated pipelines without prior review. Running Checkov inside a sandboxed environment (e.g., an ephemeral container with no cloud credentials mounted and no network access) limits the blast radius if malicious code executes - the tradeoff is added pipeline complexity. Do not grant CI/CD runners that execute Checkov broad cloud IAM permissions beyond what post-scan steps require.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in euvd
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Technical ContextAI · show details
Checkov is an open-source Python-based static analysis tool for Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) formats including Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes manifests, Dockerfiles, ARM templates, and Bicep. It is maintained by Bridgecrew/Prisma Cloud (Palo Alto Networks) and is widely integrated into CI/CD pipelines as a pre-deployment security gate. The affected CPE covers all versions: cpe:2.3:a:palo_alto_networks:checkov_by_prisma_cloud:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*. CWE-829 (Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere) describes the root cause: Checkov's parsing or evaluation logic for IaC configuration files includes or executes code paths derived from file content rather than treating the files as inert data. This is analogous to unsafe deserialization or unsafe template evaluation - the scanner trusts the content it is scanning, which inverts the intended security boundary. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P) reflects that exploitation is local (requires placing a file on disk) and requires passive user interaction (the victim must initiate a Checkov scan), but subsequent-system impacts (SC:H/SI:H/SA:H) are rated critical, reflecting that CI/CD runners executing Checkov typically hold high-value cloud credentials and pipeline access.
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Severity by source
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H/E:U/AU:N/R:U/V:D/RE:M/U:Amber
AV:L because attacker must place a file on disk; PR:N since attacker needs no system privileges; S:C because CI/CD runner environments with cloud credentials are the high-value subsequent systems.
Primary rating from Vendor (palo_alto).
CVSS VectorVendor: palo_alto
Lifecycle Timeline
1DescriptionCVE.org
A code execution vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks Checkov by Prisma® Cloud can allow arbitrary code execution when Checkov scans a directory that contains an attacker-controlled configuration file.
Threat Intelligence Overview
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.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
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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