CVE-2014-2336 in FortiAnalyzer
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Web User Interface in Fortinet FortiManager before 5.0.7 and FortiAnalyzer before 5.0.7 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-2334 and CVE-2014-2335.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2336 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the web user interface components of Fortinet FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer security appliances. These network security devices are widely deployed for centralized management and analysis of Fortinet security infrastructure, making them prime targets for attackers seeking to compromise enterprise security operations. The affected versions prior to 5.0.7 contain multiple XSS vulnerabilities that can be exploited by remote attackers without authentication, potentially allowing malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions. This vulnerability specifically impacts the web-based management interfaces of these security appliances, which are typically accessed by network administrators and security personnel for configuration and monitoring purposes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the web user interface components of FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer systems. Attackers can leverage this weakness through unspecified vectors that likely involve manipulation of web form inputs, URL parameters, or other user-controllable data fields within the management interface. The vulnerability operates as a classic reflected XSS attack where malicious payloads are injected into the web application and subsequently executed in the browser of authenticated users who visit maliciously crafted URLs or interact with compromised web pages. This flaw falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and represents a significant weakness in the application's data sanitization processes that should have prevented malicious input from being rendered as executable content.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-2336 extends far beyond simple web interface compromise, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to hijack administrator sessions, steal sensitive configuration data, modify security policies, and potentially gain unauthorized access to the underlying network infrastructure managed by these appliances. Network security administrators who access the FortiManager or FortiAnalyzer interfaces would be at risk of having their sessions hijacked, allowing attackers to perform administrative actions such as creating new user accounts, modifying firewall rules, or accessing sensitive log data. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector means that exploitation does not require physical access or network proximity to the affected appliances, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these management interfaces may be exposed to untrusted networks or accessed from various remote locations. This attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers web protocols and T1566 which involves credential harvesting through social engineering or session hijacking.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer versions 5.0.7 or later where the XSS vulnerabilities have been addressed. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, input validation mechanisms, and strict access controls for management interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security appliance firmware and the potential risks associated with legacy systems that may contain unpatched vulnerabilities. Security teams should conduct thorough assessments of their Fortinet infrastructure to identify any remaining instances of affected versions and ensure proper network segmentation to limit exposure of management interfaces to untrusted networks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar weaknesses in other network security components and to maintain overall security posture against evolving threat landscapes.