Ransomware gangs have been exploiting Palo Alto GlobalProtect VPN flaw since June

Several ransomware groups are exploiting CVE-2026-0257, an authentication bypass in Palo Alto Networks’ PAN-OS GlobalProtect patched in May, to break into organizations in sectors ranging from healthcare and education to government and energy. CVE-2026-0257 stems from the firewalls relying on cookies without performing detailed validation and integrity checking, which allows remote, unauthenticated attackers to bypass security restrictions and establish an unauthorized VPN connection.