CVE-2017-7341 in FortiWLC
Summary
by MITRE
An OS Command Injection vulnerability in Fortinet FortiWLC 6.1-2 through 6.1-5, 7.0-7 through 7.0-10, 8.0 through 8.2, and 8.3.0 through 8.3.2 file management AP script download webUI page allows an authenticated admin user to execute arbitrary system console commands via crafted HTTP requests.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7341 represents a critical operating system command injection flaw within Fortinet FortiWLC wireless LAN controller appliances. This security weakness exists in multiple firmware versions spanning across the 6.1, 7.0, 8.0, 8.2, and 8.3 release lines, specifically affecting the file management functionality related to access point script downloads through the web user interface. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web application layer that processes HTTP requests containing file management parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated administrator user submits maliciously crafted HTTP requests to the affected web interface. These requests contain specially formatted input that bypasses normal validation checks and gets directly incorporated into system commands executed by the underlying operating system. The flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-77, which specifically addresses command injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is concatenated or interpolated into system commands without proper sanitization. This allows an attacker with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary console commands with the same privileges as the web application service account, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple command execution, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including but not limited to data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, privilege escalation, and persistent backdoor installation. An authenticated attacker can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive network information, modify system configurations, disable security features, or even establish persistent access through the installation of malicious software on the wireless controller. The affected FortiWLC appliances serve as critical network infrastructure components managing wireless access point configurations, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations relying on these devices for wireless network operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7341 should prioritize immediate firmware updates to the latest available versions that contain patches addressing the command injection vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access control measures to limit administrative access to the FortiWLC web interface, ensuring that only authorized personnel with legitimate business needs can access these management functions. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls can provide additional layers of protection against similar injection attacks. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, where adversaries leverage legitimate system utilities to execute malicious commands, making it essential for organizations to monitor for unusual command execution patterns and implement proper logging and alerting mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts.