Exposing Firewall Credentials: Critical Vulnerabilities in Palo Alto Networks’ Expedition Migration Tool

Cybersecurity professionals were recently alerted to a significant threat involving the Palo Alto Networks Expedition migration tool. Multiple vulnerabilities have been identified in the tool, potentially exposing sensitive firewall credentials and configurations. While Expedition has reached its End of Life (EoL) as of December 31, 2024, the implications of these vulnerabilities remain relevant for organizations that have yet to transition to recommended alternatives.

In this article, we dive into the technical details of the vulnerabilities, their potential impact, and actionable steps for preventing similar issues in the future.

The Expedition Migration Tool: A Quick Overview

Expedition, previously known as the Migration Tool, was developed by Palo Alto Networks to assist users in migrating to its next-generation firewall (NGFW) platform. The tool provided a temporary workspace for optimizing security policies during migration. Despite its utility, it was never intended for production use. With its EoL status, no additional updates or security fixes are planned, further emphasizing the urgency to address its known vulnerabilities.

Dissecting the Vulnerabilities

Palo Alto Networks has disclosed five primary vulnerabilities in Expedition, tracked under the following CVEs:

1. CVE-2025-0103: SQL Injection (CVSS Score: 7.8)
   • This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to access Expedition’s database, revealing sensitive data such as usernames, password hashes, device configurations, and API keys. Attackers can also create and read arbitrary files on the system.
2. CVE-2025-0104: Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) (CVSS Score: 4.7)
   • Exploiting this issue, attackers can execute malicious JavaScript in the context of an authenticated user’s browser. This can lead to phishing attacks and session hijacking.
3. CVE-2025-0105: Arbitrary File Deletion (CVSS Score: 2.7)
   • Unauthenticated attackers can delete arbitrary files accessible to the Expedition system user, potentially disrupting operations.
4. CVE-2025-0106: Wildcard Expansion Vulnerability (CVSS Score: 2.7)
   • This flaw allows attackers to enumerate files on the host filesystem, exposing sensitive data.
5. CVE-2025-0107: OS Command Injection (CVSS Score: 2.3)
   • Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary operating system commands, resulting in the exposure of critical credentials and configurations.

Impact of the Vulnerabilities

The primary concern is the potential exposure of firewall credentials and configurations, which could allow attackers to:

• Gain unauthorized access to network environments.
• Exploit device configurations to bypass security controls.
• Execute targeted attacks leveraging exposed API keys.

Although these vulnerabilities do not impact Palo Alto Networks’ firewalls, Panorama appliances, Prisma Access deployments, or Cloud NGFWs directly, the data accessible through Expedition poses a high risk if improperly secured.

Mitigation Measures Taken

Palo Alto Networks has released updates to address these vulnerabilities in Expedition versions 1.2.100 and later. However, given the EoL status, users are strongly advised to:

• Transition to alternative migration solutions recommended in the Expedition End of Life Announcement.
• Implement strict network access controls to limit exposure to authorized users only.
• Permanently disable Expedition if no longer required.

10 Ways to Prevent Similar Threats

1. Regular Software Audits: Periodically review and audit tools, especially those nearing EoL, for potential vulnerabilities.
2. Use Production-Grade Tools: Avoid using temporary or non-production tools in live environments.
3. Apply Updates Promptly: Ensure timely application of security patches and updates.
4. Restrict Access: Limit network access to sensitive tools and systems to authorized personnel only.
5. Conduct Penetration Testing: Regularly test your environment for exploitable vulnerabilities.
6. Encrypt Credentials: Store all sensitive credentials in encrypted formats and avoid cleartext storage.
7. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Protect access to critical systems with MFA.
8. Monitor System Logs: Actively monitor and analyze logs for suspicious activity.
9. Provide User Training: Educate teams on identifying and mitigating social engineering attacks, which could exploit vulnerabilities like XSS.
10. Develop Incident Response Plans: Establish robust plans to address and mitigate potential breaches promptly.

Conclusion

The vulnerabilities in the Expedition migration tool underscore the critical importance of maintaining robust security practices, especially for tools nearing or beyond their lifecycle. By proactively addressing these risks, organizations can safeguard their sensitive assets and minimize exposure to cyber threats. As the cybersecurity landscape evolves, vigilance and adherence to best practices remain paramount.