CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-45581NVD status: Modified

FortiClientEMS: Improper Privilege Management

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2023-45581 is a high-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in FortiClientEMS from Fortinet, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. Affected FortiClientEMS versions: 7.2.0 through 7.2.2; 7.0.6 through 7.0.10; 7.0.0 through 7.0.4, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.88% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 60% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update forticlient_enterprise_management_server to 6.3 or 6.5, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Read the advisory on fortiguard.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
FortinetFortiClientEMS7.2.0 through 7.2.2; 7.0.6 through 7.0.10; 7.0.0 through 7.0.4; 6.4.7 through 6.4.9; 6.4.0 through 6.4.4; 6.2.6 through 6.2.9; 6.2.3 through 6.2.4; 06.02.00 through 06.02.02Not stated
Fortinetforticlient_enterprise_management_server6.2.0 up to, but not including, 6.3; 6.4.0 up to, but not including, 6.5; 7.0.0 through 7.0.4; 7.0.6 through 7.0.10; 7.2.0 through 7.2.26.3, 6.5

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
HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.18.8HighCNA (fortinet.com)
CVSS 3.17.2HighNVD

Official description

An improper privilege management vulnerability [CWE-269] vulnerability in Fortinet FortiClientEMS 7.2.0 through 7.2.2, FortiClientEMS 7.0.6 through 7.0.10, FortiClientEMS 7.0.0 through 7.0.4, FortiClientEMS 6.4 all versions, FortiClientEMS 06.02 all versions, FortiClientEMS 6.2 all versions allows an Site administrator with Super Admin privileges to perform global administrative operations affecting other sites via crafted HTTP or HTTPS requests.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Privilege Management

The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
  • Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
  • Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.

More Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities (CWE-269)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in FortiClientEMS

All FortiClientEMS vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities

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