CVE-2015-3617 in FortiManager
Summary
by MITRE
Fortinet FortiManager 5.0 before 5.0.11 and 5.2 before 5.2.2 allow local users to gain privileges via crafted CLI commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3617 affects Fortinet FortiManager appliances running versions 5.0 before 5.0.11 and 5.2 before 5.2.2, representing a critical local privilege escalation flaw that enables attackers with local access to elevate their privileges within the system. This vulnerability resides in the command line interface implementation where crafted commands can be executed with elevated privileges, potentially allowing malicious actors to bypass security controls and gain administrative access to the FortiManager device. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and privilege handling within the CLI subsystem, creating a pathway for local users to exploit the system's trust model and execute unauthorized administrative commands. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access controls, specifically focusing on improper privilege management within command execution contexts. This weakness allows attackers to leverage legitimate system access to escalate their privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where local access might be obtained through various attack vectors.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted CLI commands that manipulate the system's privilege handling mechanisms. When a local user executes these specially crafted commands, the system fails to properly validate the privilege level required for specific operations, allowing the commands to be executed with administrative privileges despite the user's initial limited access. This flaw operates at the system level where the CLI interface does not adequately enforce privilege boundaries, creating a path for privilege escalation through command injection techniques. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient privilege separation within the command processing pipeline, where the system does not properly verify the authenticity and authorization level of commands being executed. Attackers can exploit this by leveraging the CLI's trust model to execute administrative functions that should be restricted to authorized users only, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized configuration changes.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3617 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to network security configurations managed by the FortiManager appliance. Organizations utilizing affected FortiManager versions face significant risk of unauthorized configuration changes, potential data breaches, and complete loss of control over their network security policies. The vulnerability can be exploited by any local user with access to the system, including legitimate users who may have been compromised through other attack vectors such as credential theft or social engineering. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario where attackers can gain administrative access to security appliances that control critical network security functions, potentially allowing them to modify firewall rules, access sensitive configuration data, or disable security features entirely. The impact is further amplified by the fact that FortiManager appliances often serve as central management points for multiple network devices, making the compromise of a single appliance potentially catastrophic for the entire network security infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3617 require immediate implementation of firmware updates to versions 5.0.11 and 5.2.2, which contain the necessary patches to address the privilege escalation vulnerability. Organizations should also implement strict access controls and monitoring of local system access to detect potential exploitation attempts, utilizing security information and event management systems to track CLI command execution patterns. Network segmentation and least privilege principles should be enforced to limit local access to FortiManager appliances, ensuring that only authorized personnel have physical or local access to the systems. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of the affected software versions within the organization's infrastructure. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing of updated firmware to ensure compatibility with existing network security configurations and operational workflows. Organizations should implement proper change management procedures and maintain detailed logs of all administrative activities to facilitate forensic analysis in case of successful exploitation attempts, while also reviewing and updating their incident response procedures to address potential compromise scenarios involving privileged access to security appliances.