CVE-2014-1955 in FortiWeb
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in FortiGuard FortiWeb before 5.0.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
The CVE-2014-1955 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in FortiGuard FortiWeb versions prior to 5.0.3, exposing organizations to significant web application security risks. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The FortiWeb appliance serves as a web application firewall and security solution that protects organizations from various web-based attacks, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprises relying on its protection. The unspecified vectors in the original description suggest that the attack could occur through multiple entry points within the web application interface or management console, potentially including user input fields, URL parameters, or HTTP headers that are not properly sanitized.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the FortiWeb interface, enabling them to execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser session. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages. The impact extends beyond simple script injection, as attackers could potentially steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The vulnerability's presence in the FortiWeb management interface means that even administrators could be compromised, potentially leading to complete system takeover. This represents a significant bypass of the security controls that FortiWeb is designed to provide, creating a dangerous situation where the security appliance itself becomes a vector for attack.
Organizations utilizing FortiWeb versions before 5.0.3 face substantial operational risks from this vulnerability, as it undermines the fundamental security posture of their web application protection infrastructure. The remote exploitation capability means attackers do not require physical access or local network presence to exploit this flaw, making it particularly dangerous in cloud and distributed environments. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the FortiWeb management interface, potentially compromising all web applications protected by the appliance. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers could use the injected scripts to execute additional malicious commands or establish backdoors. Additionally, this vulnerability could facilitate further attacks through technique T1566 for phishing, as compromised administrators might be tricked into executing malicious scripts or providing credentials.
The remediation approach for CVE-2014-1955 requires immediate deployment of FortiWeb version 5.0.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation that may have occurred before patching, as the vulnerability could have been used to establish persistent access. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect any suspicious activity related to the FortiWeb management interface, particularly unusual login patterns or unexpected configuration changes. Security teams should implement regular patch management processes to ensure timely updates of all security appliances and web application firewalls. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls and highlights the need for continuous monitoring of security advisories from vendors like Fortinet. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as content security policies and input validation mechanisms to provide defense-in-depth against similar vulnerabilities. The incident underscores the critical nature of web application security testing and the necessity of regular security audits to identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors.