CVE-2017-7338 in FortiPortal
Summary
by MITRE
A password management vulnerability in Fortinet FortiPortal versions 4.0.0 and below allows an attacker to carry out information disclosure via the FortiAnalyzer Management View.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7338 represents a critical password management flaw within Fortinet FortiPortal devices running versions 4.0.0 and earlier. This issue resides within the FortiAnalyzer Management View component, which serves as a centralized interface for monitoring and managing network security events across Fortinet's security infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and authentication mechanisms that fail to properly validate user credentials when accessing sensitive administrative functions. Attackers exploiting this weakness can potentially bypass normal authentication procedures and gain unauthorized access to password management features, leading to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive authentication information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a failure in the authentication validation process within the FortiAnalyzer Management View module. Specifically, the system does not adequately enforce proper access controls when users attempt to access password management functions, allowing unauthorized individuals to exploit this gap in the security architecture. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be classified under CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized information disclosure by leveraging weak authentication mechanisms that should normally restrict access to privileged password management functions. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor path through which malicious actors can access administrative password storage and management interfaces without proper authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized administrative access. When exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to access password databases, credential storage areas, and management interfaces that should remain protected from unauthorized access. Security administrators may lose visibility into their network security posture as attackers can potentially modify or extract passwords from the system, leading to further compromise of network infrastructure. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on FortiPortal for centralized security management, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with credentials to access other network components that share similar authentication mechanisms. This creates a potential chain reaction effect where initial compromise of password management functions leads to broader system infiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7338 should prioritize immediate implementation of Fortinet's official security patches and firmware updates. Organizations must upgrade their FortiPortal devices to versions that address the authentication validation gaps in the FortiAnalyzer Management View component. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the FortiAnalyzer Management View from unauthorized network segments, limiting potential attack vectors. Access control policies should be enforced to ensure that only authorized administrative personnel can access sensitive password management functions, with multi-factor authentication mechanisms implemented where possible. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns to password management interfaces, and regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar authentication weaknesses in other network security components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access techniques, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive measures that address both the immediate vulnerability and broader access control weaknesses in the network security infrastructure.