CVE-2018-1360 in FortiManager
Summary
by MITRE
A cleartext transmission of sensitive information vulnerability in Fortinet FortiManager 5.2.0 through 5.2.7, 5.4.0 and 5.4.1 may allow an unauthenticated attacker in a man in the middle position to retrieve the admin password via intercepting REST API JSON responses.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2023
This vulnerability resides in Fortinet FortiManager devices running specific versions where sensitive administrative credentials are transmitted in cleartext over unencrypted communication channels. The flaw specifically affects FortiManager versions 5.2.0 through 5.2.7 and 5.4.0 through 5.4.1, creating a critical security exposure that enables man-in-the-middle attacks. The vulnerability manifests when REST API JSON responses containing administrative passwords are intercepted during transmission, allowing unauthorized actors to access privileged credentials without authentication.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper encryption mechanisms in the communication protocols used by FortiManager's REST API interface. When administrative users interact with the system through REST endpoints, sensitive information including passwords is transmitted without transport layer encryption, making it susceptible to interception. This cleartext transmission violates fundamental security principles and creates an attack surface that aligns with CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper data handling. The vulnerability represents a classic example of inadequate cryptographic implementation where authentication credentials are exposed during network transmission.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, potentially allowing attackers to gain full administrative control over affected FortiManager systems. Once an attacker intercepts the cleartext administrative passwords, they can perform any administrative function including modifying firewall policies, accessing sensitive network data, creating new administrative accounts, and potentially escalating privileges to gain broader network access. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on FortiManager for centralized network security management, as compromise of these systems can lead to widespread network security breaches. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials use, and T1566 which covers credential harvesting through network sniffing.
Organizations should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves enabling SSL/TLS encryption for all REST API communications to prevent cleartext transmission of sensitive data. Fortinet has released patches for affected versions that address the encryption implementation, and organizations must upgrade to patched versions immediately. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual API traffic patterns that might indicate credential interception attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network access controls to limit REST API access to trusted administrative networks only. The mitigation approach should align with NIST SP 800-53 control AC-17 which addresses secure communications, and the broader principle of defense in depth as outlined in ISO/IEC 27001 security controls. Regular security assessments and network monitoring should be conducted to ensure the effectiveness of implemented controls and to detect potential exploitation attempts.