CVE-2014-4738 in FortiWeb
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in FortiGuard FortiWeb 5.0.x, 5.1.x, and 5.2.x before 5.2.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors to (1) user/ldap_user/check_dlg or (2) user/radius_user/check_dlg.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4738 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting FortiGuard FortiWeb web application firewalls across multiple versions including 5.0.x, 5.1.x, and 5.2.x prior to 5.2.1. This vulnerability resides in the authentication and user management interfaces of the FortiWeb appliance, specifically within the ldap_user/check_dlg and radius_user/check_dlg endpoints. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users, potentially compromising the entire security posture of the protected web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the classic characteristics of CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, where user-supplied data is inadequately sanitized before being rendered in web responses. This weakness creates an attack surface where malicious input can be injected into web pages viewed by other users, enabling various exploitation techniques including session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of input parameters passed to the ldap_user/check_dlg and radius_user/check_dlg endpoints. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable FortiWeb appliance, get reflected back to users in web responses without proper sanitization or encoding. This creates a persistent XSS condition where the injected scripts execute in the context of the victim's browser session. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it targets the administrative interfaces of the web application firewall, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to the FortiWeb management console. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.002 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers could leverage these XSS flaws to deliver malicious payloads that compromise the administrative interface. The affected endpoints represent critical administrative functions that handle user authentication and authorization processes, making them prime targets for attackers seeking to compromise the security infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-4738 extends beyond simple script injection, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to manipulate user accounts, modify authentication configurations, and potentially gain complete administrative control over the FortiWeb appliance. This vulnerability compromises the integrity of the web application firewall's user management system, undermining the security controls that the appliance is designed to provide. Organizations using affected FortiWeb versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to their protected web applications, as attackers could leverage the XSS vulnerability to establish persistent access through compromised administrative sessions. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security assurances that organizations rely upon when deploying web application firewalls, particularly in environments where FortiWeb serves as a critical security control for protecting web applications from various cyber threats. The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to data breaches, service disruption, and compliance violations, as the compromised appliance would no longer provide effective protection for the web applications it was designed to secure. Security teams must consider the potential for lateral movement within networks where compromised FortiWeb appliances could serve as launching points for attacks against other systems. The vulnerability also impacts the trust model of the security infrastructure, as the administrative interfaces that should be protected become attack vectors for malicious actors. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to FortiWeb 5.2.1 or later versions, implementing additional input validation controls, and monitoring for suspicious activities in the administrative interfaces.