CVE-2014-8619 in FortiWeb
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in autolearn configuration page in Fortinet FortiWeb 5.1.2 through 5.3.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2022
The CVE-2014-8619 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Fortinet FortiWeb appliances running versions 5.1.2 through 5.3.4. This vulnerability specifically targets the autolearn configuration page, which serves as a crucial administrative interface for configuring automatic learning features that help the web application firewall adapt to legitimate traffic patterns. The autolearn functionality is designed to automatically identify and whitelist normal user behavior, making it an essential component for maintaining effective security policies while minimizing false positives. However, the XSS vulnerability in this administrative interface creates a significant attack surface that could be exploited by remote threat actors to compromise the security posture of protected web applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the autolearn configuration page. Attackers can exploit unspecified vectors to inject malicious scripts or HTML content that will be executed in the context of other users who access this administrative interface. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical weakness in web applications where user-supplied data is improperly sanitized before being rendered back to users. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it occurs within an administrative context, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or manipulate security configurations that control how the FortiWeb appliance protects web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is particularly severe given that the affected interface is used for configuring security policies that govern how the FortiWeb appliance handles traffic. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially manipulate the autolearn parameters to either whitelist malicious traffic patterns or disrupt legitimate security operations. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the network or administrative credentials to exploit this weakness, making it an attractive target for automated attacks. This vulnerability could enable attackers to perform actions such as modifying security rules, accessing sensitive administrative functions, or even redirecting users to malicious sites that appear to be legitimate administrative interfaces.
Organizations using affected FortiWeb versions should prioritize immediate remediation through official firmware updates provided by Fortinet. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security appliances and implementing comprehensive input validation across all administrative interfaces. Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious administrative activity and network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection, as well as T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering, making it a significant concern for organizations that rely on web application firewalls for perimeter security. The incident underscores the necessity of regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in network security infrastructure components.