CVE-2015-1455 in FortiAuthenticator
Summary
by MITRE
Fortinet FortiAuthenticator 3.0.0 has a password of (1) slony for the slony PostgreSQL user and (2) www-data for the www-data PostgreSQL user, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1455 affects Fortinet FortiAuthenticator version 3.0.0, a network authentication solution designed to provide secure access control and user authentication services. This weakness represents a critical security flaw that stems from the use of default credentials for PostgreSQL database users, creating an easily exploitable pathway for unauthorized access. The vulnerability specifically involves two default passwords that are hardcoded within the system, making it significantly easier for attackers to gain access to the underlying database infrastructure. The presence of such predictable credentials violates fundamental security principles and represents a classic example of poor credential management practices in security appliances.
The technical flaw manifests through the hardcoded default passwords for the PostgreSQL database users slony and www-data, which remain unchanged from their default values throughout the system deployment. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain direct access to the PostgreSQL database, potentially enabling them to extract sensitive information, modify database contents, or escalate privileges within the system. The unspecified attack vectors suggest that multiple entry points may exist for exploitation, including network-based attacks that could leverage the default credentials through various protocols or interfaces that connect to the PostgreSQL database. This weakness directly maps to CWE-798, which categorizes the use of hardcoded credentials as a severe security flaw, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts with default passwords as a method for gaining initial access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, as it provides attackers with a straightforward path to compromise the FortiAuthenticator appliance and potentially the entire network authentication infrastructure it manages. Once an attacker gains access through these default credentials, they can manipulate user authentication data, modify access control policies, or extract sensitive user credentials stored within the database. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the authentication system, potentially leading to unauthorized network access, privilege escalation, or complete system compromise. Organizations relying on FortiAuthenticator for authentication services face significant risk, as the default passwords provide minimal security barriers for determined attackers. The ease of exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where network monitoring is insufficient or where the appliance is accessible from untrusted networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate credential changes to eliminate the default passwords, ensuring that all database users have strong, unique passwords that are regularly rotated. Organizations should implement comprehensive security configurations that disable unnecessary services and interfaces, reducing the attack surface available to potential attackers. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit access to the FortiAuthenticator appliance to authorized personnel only. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scans should be conducted to identify and remediate similar hardcoded credential issues in other systems. Additionally, implementing proper credential management policies and security awareness training for administrators can help prevent the introduction of default credentials in future deployments. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following security best practices such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 standards for secure system configuration and credential management.