CVE-2012-0941 in FortiOS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Fortinet FortiGate UTM WAF appliances with FortiOS 4.3.x before 4.3.6 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors involving the (1) Endpoint Monitor, (2) Dialup List, or (3) Log&Report Display modules or the fields_sorted_opt parameter to (4) user/auth/list or (5) endpointcompliance/app_detect/predefined_sig_list.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2021
The vulnerability CVE-2012-0941 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Fortinet FortiGate Unified Threat Management appliances running FortiOS 4.3.x versions prior to 4.3.6. This weakness resides within the web application interface of the security appliance, specifically impacting the Endpoint Monitor, Dialup List, Log&Report Display modules, and certain administrative endpoints. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages, creating opportunities for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of authenticated users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through multiple attack vectors that leverage the web-based management interface of the FortiGate appliance. Attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code through parameters such as fields_sorted_opt in the user/auth/list and endpointcompliance/app_detect/predefined_sig_list endpoints, or through the aforementioned modules. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects administrative interfaces that may be accessible to authenticated users, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to sensitive network information. This flaw directly maps to CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that enables XSS attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0941 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal administrative credentials, or redirect users to malicious sites. Since FortiGate appliances serve as network security gateways, successful exploitation could compromise the entire network infrastructure by allowing attackers to manipulate security policies, view sensitive logs, or gain unauthorized access to protected resources. The vulnerability affects the appliance's ability to properly validate and sanitize inputs from web-based management interfaces, potentially leading to complete compromise of the security appliance itself. This risk is exacerbated by the fact that administrators frequently interact with these interfaces, making the attack surface more accessible.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0941 should prioritize immediate patching of affected FortiOS versions to 4.3.6 or later, as this resolves the input validation issues that enable the XSS exploitation. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, enforce strict access controls, and deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter malicious traffic. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary administrative services, implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access, and conducting regular security assessments of web-based management interfaces. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, and represents a critical security gap that requires immediate attention in enterprise network security environments. Regular security updates and vulnerability management processes should be implemented to prevent similar issues in other network security appliances and web applications.