CVE-2017-3130 in FortiOS
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in Fortinet FortiOS 5.6.0, 5.4.4 and below versions allows attacker to get FortiOS version info by inspecting FortiOS IKE VendorID packets.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3130 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Fortinet FortiOS implementations that affects versions 5.6.0 and 5.4.4 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically targets the Internet Key Exchange protocol implementation within the FortiOS operating system, where sensitive version information is inadvertently exposed through IKE VendorID packets. The flaw stems from improper handling of IKE protocol messages during the initial phase of secure communication establishment, creating an attack surface that adversaries can exploit to gather system intelligence.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs during the IKE negotiation process when FortiOS devices respond to IKE initiation requests with VendorID payloads that contain detailed version information. These packets are transmitted without proper sanitization of version identifiers, allowing attackers to extract precise FortiOS version numbers including minor releases and patch levels. The vulnerability manifests as a direct information leak within the IKE protocol stack where version strings are embedded in the VendorID attribute of IKE messages, providing attackers with precise system identification data that can be used for further exploitation.
This information disclosure vulnerability significantly impacts operational security by enabling threat actors to perform targeted attacks against specific FortiOS versions that may contain known exploits or vulnerabilities. The leaked version information allows adversaries to conduct version-specific reconnaissance, potentially identifying systems running vulnerable software that has not been patched or updated. Security professionals can leverage this intelligence to assess risk exposure and prioritize remediation efforts, but attackers can use the same information to craft more effective attacks against known weaknesses in specific FortiOS releases.
The operational impact extends beyond simple version disclosure as it enables more sophisticated attack vectors including exploit development against known vulnerabilities in specific FortiOS versions, targeted social engineering campaigns, and advanced persistent threat operations. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 which describes improper information disclosure in software systems, and represents a clear violation of information hiding principles in network security protocols. The exposure of version information through IKE VendorID packets directly contravenes security best practices established in various cybersecurity frameworks including those recommended by nist and iso standards for secure communications.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating FortiOS to versions 5.6.1 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed, configuring firewall rules to limit IKE protocol access, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious IKE VendorID packet analysis. Security teams should also establish network segmentation to limit exposure of FortiOS devices to untrusted networks and implement intrusion detection systems capable of identifying abnormal IKE protocol behavior. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper protocol implementation and the need for thorough security testing of network protocol stacks to prevent information leakage that could compromise overall system security posture.