Fortinet FortiOS and FortiProxy Improper Authorization
CVE-2018-13382 is a high-severity incorrect authorization vulnerability in Fortinet FortiOS, FortiProxy from Fortinet, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on January 10, 2022, which means attacks have been observed in the wild, including in ransomware campaigns.
Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.
What to do
- Update Fortiproxy to 1.2.9 or a later version.
- Update Fortios to 5.4.11 or 5.6.9 or 6.0.5, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- CISA's required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Read the advisory on fortiguard.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortinet | Fortinet FortiOS, FortiProxy | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Fortinet | Fortiproxy | before 1.2.9; 2.0.0 | 1.2.9 |
| Fortinet | Fortios | 5.4.1 up to, but not including, 5.4.11; 5.6.0 up to, but not including, 5.6.9; 6.0.0 up to, but not including, 6.0.5 | 5.4.11, 5.6.9, 6.0.5 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.1 | Critical | CNA (fortinet.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 2.0 | 5.0 | Medium | NVD |
Official description
An Improper Authorization vulnerability in Fortinet FortiOS 6.0.0 to 6.0.4, 5.6.0 to 5.6.8 and 5.4.1 to 5.4.10 and FortiProxy 2.0.0, 1.2.0 to 1.2.8, 1.1.0 to 1.1.6, 1.0.0 to 1.0.7 under SSL VPN web portal allows an unauthenticated attacker to modify the password of an SSL VPN web portal user via specially crafted HTTP requests
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Incorrect Authorization
The product performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action, but it does not correctly perform the check.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Divide the product into anonymous, normal, privileged, and administrative areas. Reduce the attack surface by carefully mapping roles with data and functionality. Use role-based access control (RBAC) to enforce the roles at the appropriate boundaries. Note that this approach may not protect against horizontal authorization, i.e., it will not protect a user from attacking others with the same role.
- Ensure that access control checks are performed related to the business logic. These checks may be different than the access control checks that are applied to more generic resources such as files, connections, processes, memory, and database records. For example, a database may restrict access for medical records to a specific database user, but each record might only be intended to be accessible to the patient and the patient's doctor.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, consider using authorization frameworks such as the JAAS Authorization Framework and the OWASP ESAPI Access Control feature.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
- Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Third-party and government advisories
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-13382US Government Resource
Other vulnerabilities in Fortinet FortiOS, FortiProxy
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
Fortinet FortiOS SSL VPN Path Traversal Exploited
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