CVE-2012-6346 in FortiWeb
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in FortiWeb before 4.4.4 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) redir or (2) mkey parameter to waf/pcre_expression/validate.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-6346 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting FortiWeb web application firewalls prior to version 4.4.4. This vulnerability resides within the waf/pcre_expression/validate endpoint and affects two specific parameters: redir and mkey. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser, making it a serious security concern for organizations relying on FortiWeb for web application protection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the FortiWeb WAF module. When the system processes requests containing the redir or mkey parameters, it fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into the response. This lack of proper input sanitization creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious payloads that can be executed by unsuspecting users. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, where improper validation of input data leads to execution of malicious scripts in user browsers. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it operates at the WAF validation layer, meaning that even legitimate security controls may be bypassed or circumvented by exploiting this weakness.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-6346 is substantial as it undermines the fundamental security posture of organizations using FortiWeb. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, redirect victims to malicious sites, or even execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the network. This vulnerability directly maps to several techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the web application attack category, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through web interfaces and session management weaknesses. Organizations may experience data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential compromise of their entire web application infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-6346 primarily involve upgrading to FortiWeb version 4.4.4 or later, which includes proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent XSS injection. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as web application firewalls with proper XSS filtering, input validation at multiple layers, and regular security assessments of web applications. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in their web application environments. Organizations should consider implementing proper logging and monitoring mechanisms to detect suspicious activity related to parameter manipulation that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls and following security best practices to prevent exploitation of known weaknesses in web application security systems.