FortiProxy: Improper Validation of Certificate with Host Mismatch
CVE-2025-25253 is a high-severity improper validation of certificate with host mismatch vulnerability in FortiProxy from Fortinet, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited from the same local network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected FortiProxy versions: 7.6.0 through 7.6.1; 7.4.0 through 7.4.8; 7.2.0 through 7.2.15, 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 0.11% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of FortiProxy you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on fortiguard.fortinet.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortinet | FortiProxy | 7.6.0 through 7.6.1; 7.4.0 through 7.4.8; 7.2.0 through 7.2.15; 7.0.0 through 7.0.22 | Not stated |
| Fortinet | FortiOS | 7.6.0 through 7.6.2; 7.4.0 through 7.4.8; 7.2.0 through 7.2.12; 7.0.0 through 7.0.18 | Not stated |
| Fortinet | FortiPAM | 1.4.1 | Not stated |
| Siemens | RUGGEDCOM APE1808 | all versions | Not stated |
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
- AdjacentThe attacker must be on the same local network segment.
- Attack complexity
- HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
- 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
- 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:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (fortinet.com).
Official description
An Improper Validation of Certificate with Host Mismatch vulnerability [CWE-297] in FortiProxy version 7.6.1 and below, version 7.4.8 and below, 7.2 all versions, 7.0 all versions and FortiOS version 7.6.2 and below, version 7.4.8 and below, 7.2 all versions, 7.0 all versions ZTNA proxy may allow an unauthenticated attacker in a man-in-the middle position to intercept and tamper with connections to the ZTNA proxy
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Validation of Certificate with Host Mismatch
The product communicates with a host that provides a certificate, but the product does not properly ensure that the certificate is actually associated with that host.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- In order to ensure data integrity, the certificate must be valid, and it must pertain to the site that is being accessed.Fully check the hostname of the certificate and provide the user with adequate information about the nature of the problem and how to proceed.
- If certificate pinning is being used, ensure that all relevant properties of the certificate are fully validated before the certificate is pinned, including the hostname.
- Be careful of other weaknesses in the code that checks the hostname, since it is still possible to incorrectly check the hostname. For example, attackers could create a certificate with a name that begins with a trusted name followed by a NUL byte, which could cause some string-based comparisons to only examine the portion that contains the trusted name.
More Improper Validation of Certificate with Host Mismatch vulnerabilities (CWE-297)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in FortiProxy
- 8.1 High severity
- 6.5 Medium severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
Recent Improper Validation of Certificate with Host Mismatch vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
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