Detect Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS Out-of-bounds Write (CVE-2026-0300) in Sumo Logic CSE
Detects exploitation attempts targeting CVE-2026-0300, an out-of-bounds write vulnerability (CWE-787) in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS. This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild (CISA KEV) and may allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, crash the device, or escalate privileges on affected PAN-OS appliances. Detection focuses on anomalous management plane activity, unexpected process crashes, memory corruption indicators, and suspicious inbound traffic patterns targeting PAN-OS management interfaces.
MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic
- Initial Access Execution Impact
Sumo Detection Query
_sourceCategory=network/paloalto OR _sourceCategory=firewall/panos
| where %"vendor" = "Palo Alto Networks" or _sourceCategory matches /palo*/
| parse "type=*]" as log_type nodrop
| parse "subtype=*]" as log_subtype nodrop
| parse "severity=*]" as severity_level nodrop
| where log_type in ("THREAT", "SYSTEM") or
(%message matches /(?i)(out.of.bounds|memory.corruption|segfault|core.dump|buffer.overflow|stack.smash)/) or
(%message matches /cve-2026-0300/i)
| eval exploit_signal = if(%message matches /(?i)(out.of.bounds|memory.corruption|segfault)/, "memory_corruption",
if(%message matches /(?i)(crash|abort|fatal|sigsegv)/, "process_crash",
if(%message matches /cve-2026-0300/i, "direct_match", "threat_log")))
| timeslice 5m
| stats count as event_count, values(src_ip) as source_ips, values(exploit_signal) as signals by _timeslice, _sourceHost
| where event_count > 3
| sort by event_count descSumo Logic detection for CVE-2026-0300. Aggregates PAN-OS THREAT and SYSTEM log types alongside payload-level memory corruption and crash indicators, grouped by 5-minute windows to surface exploitation bursts.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- High-volume legitimate traffic from internal scanning tools misconfigured to target management interfaces
- PAN-OS automated content update cycles generating SYSTEM log bursts
- HA clustering events creating duplicate SYSTEM log entries that inflate event counts
- Sumo Logic source category misconfiguration mixing unrelated firewall logs with PAN-OS logs
Other platforms for CVE-2026-0300
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 3 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1Simulate malformed HTTPS payload to PAN-OS management interface
Expected signal: PAN-OS threat logs should record an anomalous inbound connection; syslog may show a connection handling error or rate limit trigger on the management interface.
- Test 2Trigger PAN-OS management daemon crash simulation via process kill
Expected signal: PAN-OS system logs will record a process crash event for sslmgrd with signal 11 (SIGSEGV); watchdog restart will generate a subsequent SYSTEM log entry. Syslog forwarding will push these to the SIEM.
- Test 3Enumerate PAN-OS management interface exposure and version fingerprinting
Expected signal: PAN-OS management logs will record the inbound HTTPS requests from the test source IP. If threat prevention is enabled, reconnaissance-pattern requests may trigger a threat log entry.
Unlock Pro Content
Get the full detection package for CVE-2026-0300 including response playbook, investigation guide, and atomic red team tests.