CVE-2020-9294 in FortiMail
Summary
by MITRE
An improper authentication vulnerability in FortiMail 5.4.10, 6.0.7, 6.2.2 and earlier and FortiVoiceEntreprise 6.0.0 and 6.0.1 may allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to access the system as a legitimate user by requesting a password change via the user interface.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical improper authentication flaw affecting FortiMail and FortiVoice Enterprise products across multiple versions. The issue stems from a design weakness in the password change functionality that fails to properly validate user credentials before processing authentication requests. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can bypass normal authentication mechanisms and gain legitimate user access through the web-based administrative interface. The vulnerability specifically manifests when an unauthenticated attacker submits a password change request, which the system incorrectly processes without requiring valid authentication credentials. This flaw fundamentally undermines the authentication model of these Fortinet products, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to administrative functions. The vulnerability affects FortiMail versions 5.4.10, 6.0.7, 6.2.2 and earlier, along with FortiVoice Enterprise versions 6.0.0 and 6.0.1, indicating a widespread impact across multiple product lines and version branches. The technical implementation appears to lack proper session validation and access control checks during password reset operations, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the authentication flow. This weakness aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and represents a significant deviation from secure authentication practices outlined in industry standards. The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote attackers to assume legitimate user identities without requiring prior access credentials, potentially leading to full system compromise and unauthorized administrative control.
The exploitability of this vulnerability demonstrates a clear attack vector that leverages the web interface to manipulate authentication flows. Attackers can initiate password change requests without being authenticated, effectively creating a backdoor into the system that bypasses normal user management procedures. This represents a fundamental failure in access control implementation, where the system should enforce authentication requirements before processing any administrative operations. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from outside the network perimeter, eliminating the need for physical access or internal network presence. The flaw essentially allows for privilege escalation through a seemingly benign administrative function, transforming an ordinary password reset request into a mechanism for unauthorized system access. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under credential access and privilege escalation domains, specifically targeting the exploitation of weak authentication controls. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate user accounts, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system modification, or further lateral movement within compromised networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions to address the underlying authentication implementation flaw. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of administrative interfaces to trusted networks only. The security configuration of these systems should be reviewed to ensure that administrative interfaces are not accessible from untrusted networks without proper authentication mechanisms. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns or password change requests from unexpected sources. Security teams should implement multi-factor authentication where possible and establish strict access control policies for administrative functions. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar authentication weaknesses in other network components. The remediation process must include thorough validation that the patch properly addresses the root cause rather than merely masking symptoms. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. Configuration management practices should be strengthened to ensure that administrative interfaces are properly secured and that access controls are consistently applied across all affected systems. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper authentication implementation and the potential consequences of failing to validate user credentials before processing sensitive operations.