CVE-2019-15707 in FortiMail Admin WebUI
Summary
by MITRE
An improper access control vulnerability in FortiMail admin webUI 6.2.0, 6.0.0 to 6.0.6, 5.4.10 and below may allow administrators to perform system backup config download they should not be authorized for.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2024
This vulnerability resides in the FortiMail administrative web interface where improper access control mechanisms fail to properly validate user permissions during system backup configuration download operations. The flaw affects multiple versions including 6.2.0, 6.0.0 through 6.0.6, and 5.4.10 and earlier releases, creating a persistent security weakness across the product line. The vulnerability specifically allows authenticated administrators to bypass intended authorization controls and download system backup configurations that they should not be authorized to access, representing a critical deviation from proper access control principles.
The technical implementation flaw stems from insufficient input validation and authorization checks within the backup configuration download functionality of the web interface. When administrators attempt to download system backup configurations, the application fails to properly verify whether the requesting user possesses the appropriate privileges for the specific configuration files being accessed. This misconfiguration creates an access control bypass where administrative users can escalate their privileges through legitimate administrative functions to access restricted backup data. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern all administrative operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables unauthorized access to sensitive system configuration data that may contain credentials, network settings, security policies, and other confidential information. Attackers who can exploit this vulnerability gain access to complete system backup configurations that could reveal critical infrastructure details, potentially leading to further exploitation opportunities. The risk is amplified because the vulnerability affects multiple versions of the FortiMail product, indicating a widespread issue that could impact numerous deployments. This weakness creates opportunities for privilege escalation and information disclosure that could compromise the entire email security infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Fortinet, which address the access control validation issues in the web interface. Network segmentation should be enforced to limit access to the FortiMail administrative interface, and administrative access should be restricted to trusted personnel only. Multi-factor authentication should be implemented for all administrative accounts, and regular audits of administrative access logs should be conducted to detect unauthorized backup configuration downloads. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper authorization controls in administrative interfaces and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1211 which covers privilege escalation through unauthorized access to system resources. Security monitoring should specifically track backup configuration download activities as potential indicators of exploitation attempts.