CVE-2021-24006 in FortiManager
Summary
by MITRE • 09/07/2021
An improper access control vulnerability in FortiManager versions 6.4.0 to 6.4.3 may allow an authenticated attacker with a restricted user profile to access the SD-WAN Orchestrator panel via directly visiting its URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-24006 represents a critical access control flaw within FortiManager network security appliances, specifically affecting versions 6.4.0 through 6.4.3. This issue stems from inadequate authorization checks that permit authenticated users with limited privileges to bypass normal access restrictions and directly access sensitive administrative interfaces. The affected SD-WAN Orchestrator panel constitutes a significant security risk as it provides access to critical network infrastructure management functions that should remain restricted to authorized administrators only.
This vulnerability manifests through a classic improper access control flaw categorized under CWE-285, which falls within the broader scope of authorization weaknesses in software systems. The technical implementation appears to lack proper session validation and privilege enforcement mechanisms when users attempt to navigate to specific administrative URLs. An attacker with a restricted user account can exploit this weakness by directly accessing the SD-WAN Orchestrator panel URL without undergoing the standard authentication and authorization processes that would normally validate their clearance level. The flaw essentially allows privilege escalation through path traversal or direct resource access, enabling unauthorized access to administrative functionalities that should be protected by robust access control policies.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it potentially enables attackers to manipulate SD-WAN configurations, view sensitive network topology information, and potentially disrupt critical network services. According to ATT&CK framework methodology, this vulnerability maps to T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as it exploits legitimate user credentials to gain elevated access within the system. The exposure of the SD-WAN Orchestrator panel to restricted users creates a persistent threat vector that could lead to comprehensive network compromise, especially in environments where FortiManager serves as a central management point for distributed network infrastructure. Organizations utilizing these specific FortiManager versions face significant risk of unauthorized configuration changes, data exfiltration, and potential service disruption.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate deployment of Fortinet's official security patches and firmware updates addressing this specific access control weakness. Network administrators must implement additional monitoring controls to detect unauthorized access attempts to administrative panels and establish strict URL access policies. The recommended remediation includes configuring proper access control lists, implementing role-based access controls with least privilege principles, and conducting comprehensive security audits of all administrative interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to isolate management interfaces from general user access and establish automated alerting mechanisms for suspicious access patterns. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to prevent exploitation of access control flaws that could compromise entire network infrastructures.