CVE-2016-3194 in FortiManager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the address added page in Fortinet FortiManager 5.x before 5.0.12 and 5.2.x before 5.2.6 and FortiAnalyzer 5.x before 5.0.13 and 5.2.x before 5.2.6 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2022
The CVE-2016-3194 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Fortinet FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer platforms across multiple version ranges. This vulnerability specifically targets the address added page functionality within these security management systems, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML content within the context of authenticated user sessions. The flaw exists in versions 5.x before 5.0.12 and 5.2.x before 5.2.6 for FortiManager, and similarly affected FortiAnalyzer versions 5.x before 5.0.13 and 5.2.x before 5.2.6, demonstrating the widespread nature of this security weakness across Fortinet's security management portfolio.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the address management interface of these Fortinet appliances. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that are then executed when legitimate users navigate to the affected address added page. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability may manifest through multiple input points including form fields, URL parameters, or other user-controllable data elements within the address management functionality. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, where the weakness occurs when an application fails to properly validate or encode user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-3194 extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to potentially hijack user sessions, steal sensitive authentication credentials, or redirect users to malicious websites. Given that FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer are critical security management platforms used by organizations to monitor and control their network security infrastructure, the compromise of these systems could lead to severe consequences including unauthorized access to security policies, network monitoring data, and the potential ability to manipulate security configurations. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require physical access or local network presence to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where these appliances may be exposed to untrusted networks.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to ATT&CK framework tactic TA0001 (Initial Access) and technique T1566 (Phishing with Malicious Attachments) where XSS attacks can serve as entry points for broader compromise. Organizations using affected Fortinet appliances should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of vendor patches released in versions 5.0.12, 5.0.13, 5.2.6 for their respective products. Additional mitigations include implementing web application firewalls, deploying strict content security policies, and conducting regular security assessments of management interfaces. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices in security management applications, particularly those handling user data within administrative interfaces. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit access to these critical management systems and implement multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of potential session hijacking attacks resulting from this XSS vulnerability.