CVE-2014-2723 in FortiBalancer
Summary
by MITRE
In FortiBalancer 400, 1000, 2000 and 3000, a platform-specific remote access vulnerability has been discovered that may allow a remote user to gain privileged access to affected systems using SSH. The vulnerability is caused by a configuration error, and is not the result of an underlying SSH defect.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2723 affects FortiBalancer series devices including models 400, 1000, 2000, and 3000, representing a significant security weakness in network load balancing appliances. This remote access vulnerability specifically targets the Secure Shell protocol implementation within these devices, creating a pathway for unauthorized users to escalate privileges and gain administrative control. The flaw manifests as a configuration error rather than a fundamental defect in the SSH protocol itself, indicating that the vulnerability stems from improper implementation or deployment of the security protocol rather than inherent cryptographic weaknesses. This distinction is crucial as it suggests the vulnerability could potentially be remediated through proper configuration changes rather than requiring protocol-level patches or updates.
The technical nature of this vulnerability allows a remote attacker to exploit the platform-specific SSH implementation to achieve privileged access, which represents a critical compromise of system integrity and confidentiality. The configuration error likely involves improper access controls, weak authentication mechanisms, or flawed privilege escalation procedures within the FortiBalancer's SSH service implementation. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and specifically relates to weak privilege management within network infrastructure devices. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it enables remote exploitation without requiring physical access or local credentials, making it an attractive target for malicious actors seeking to compromise network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate load balancing configurations, potentially disrupting network services, redirecting traffic to malicious endpoints, or creating backdoors for persistent access. Network administrators responsible for managing these load balancer appliances face significant risk, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise and potential disruption of critical network services. The vulnerability affects multiple models within the FortiBalancer line, suggesting a widespread issue that impacts various deployment scenarios including enterprise data centers, cloud environments, and service provider networks. Organizations utilizing these devices may experience service degradation, data interception, or complete system takeover, depending on the attacker's objectives and the specific configuration of the affected appliances.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2723 should focus on addressing the underlying configuration error that enables the privilege escalation. Network security teams should implement immediate configuration hardening measures including disabling unnecessary SSH services, enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, and implementing proper access control lists for SSH connections. The remediation process should involve reviewing and updating the SSH server configuration files to ensure proper privilege separation and authentication requirements. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to these devices, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, and establishing regular security audits to identify similar configuration errors. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and remote access capabilities, making it relevant to both T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) tactics. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify other potential configuration errors that may present similar attack vectors within the network infrastructure.