CVE-2012-6347 in Fortigate FortiDB
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Java number format exception handling in FortiGate FortiDB before 4.4.2 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the conversationContext parameter to (1) admin/auditTrail.jsf, (2) mapolicymgmt/targetsMonitorView.jsf, (3) vascan/globalsummary.jsf, (4) vaerrorlog/vaErrorLog.jsf, (5) database/listTargetGroups.jsf, (6) sysconfig/listSystemInfo.jsf, (7) vascan/list.jsf, (8) network/router.jsf, (9) mapolicymgmt/editPolicyProfile.jsf, or (10) mapolicymgmt/maPolicyMasterList.jsf.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-6347 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the FortiGate FortiDB security appliance software version 4.4.1 and earlier. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization during the handling of Java number format exceptions, specifically affecting the web interface components of the security platform. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes the conversationContext parameter through multiple jsf (JavaServer Faces) endpoints, creating multiple attack vectors that could be exploited by remote malicious actors without requiring authentication. The affected URLs span across various administrative and monitoring interfaces including audit trails, policy management, system configuration, and network monitoring modules, indicating a systemic issue in the application's input handling mechanisms rather than isolated component failures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the conversationContext parameter which is processed by the Java server-side components without proper sanitization of user-supplied input. When the application encounters a number format exception during processing, it fails to adequately escape or validate the input data before rendering it within the web interface, allowing attackers to inject malicious javascript code or html content. This flaw directly maps to CWE-79 - Cross-site Scripting, specifically categorized under the "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation" subtype, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that enables attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of the victim's browser. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple administrative interfaces, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information or manipulate the security appliance's operational parameters.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-6347 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, data exfiltration, and potentially escalate privileges within the FortiDB environment. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to steal administrative sessions, access confidential system information, modify security policies, or even redirect users to malicious websites. The multi-vector nature of the attack, affecting ten distinct jsf endpoints, increases the attack surface and the likelihood of successful exploitation, particularly in environments where administrators frequently interact with these interfaces. The vulnerability's presence in audit trail and monitoring components is especially dangerous as it could allow attackers to conceal their activities or manipulate security logs, undermining the very purpose of the security monitoring capabilities. This weakness creates a potential pathway for attackers to establish persistent access within the network security infrastructure, as the compromised administrative interfaces could be used to modify firewall rules, access system configurations, or manipulate security policies.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of FortiDB firmware version 4.4.2 or later, which includes patches addressing the input validation issues in the affected jsf components. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the FortiDB interfaces to trusted administrative networks only. Regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar input validation vulnerabilities in other applications, as this flaw demonstrates the importance of comprehensive input sanitization across all web application components. The vulnerability highlights the necessity of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for preventing cross-site scripting attacks, particularly emphasizing the importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications. Additionally, implementing proper web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against similar exploitation attempts, while regular security training for administrators can help identify potential exploitation attempts in the early stages of an attack.