CVE-2021-43070 in FortiWLM
Summary
by MITRE • 03/02/2022
Multiple relative path traversal vulnerabilities [CWE-23] in FortiWLM management interface 8.6.2 and below, 8.5.2 and below, 8.4.2 and below, 8.3.3 and below, 8.2.2 may allow an authenticated attacker to retrieve arbitrary files from the underlying filesystem via specially crafted web requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2021-43070 represents a critical relative path traversal flaw affecting FortiWLM management interfaces across multiple versions including 8.6.2 and below, 8.5.2 and below, 8.4.2 and below, 8.3.3 and below, and 8.2.2 and below. This weakness falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-23, which specifically addresses relative path traversal vulnerabilities that enable attackers to access files outside of the intended directory structure. The vulnerability exists within the web management interface of FortiWLM, a wireless LAN management solution developed by Fortinet, making it particularly concerning for organizations relying on wireless network infrastructure management.
The technical flaw manifests when authenticated attackers exploit improper input validation in the web request handling mechanisms of the FortiWLM management interface. Through carefully crafted web requests containing directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\, attackers can manipulate the application's file access routines to navigate beyond the intended file system boundaries. This allows the attacker to access arbitrary files on the underlying operating system, potentially including configuration files, database files, system credentials, and other sensitive data that should remain protected within the application's designated access scope. The vulnerability requires authentication to exploit, meaning an attacker must first obtain valid credentials, but once authenticated, the path traversal capability provides extensive access to the system's file structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations using affected FortiWLM versions, as it creates a potential pathway for data exfiltration and system compromise. An authenticated attacker could extract sensitive configuration information, access system logs, retrieve database contents, or potentially discover system credentials that could lead to further privilege escalation. The vulnerability affects the management interface specifically, which means that successful exploitation could provide attackers with insights into the wireless network infrastructure, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks against the wireless network itself. Organizations with wireless network management systems using these vulnerable versions face risks of unauthorized access to critical network management data and potential disruption of wireless services.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest FortiWLM versions that contain patches for this vulnerability, as Fortinet would have released security updates addressing the path traversal flaw. Network segmentation and access control measures should be reviewed to limit access to the management interface to only authorized personnel with legitimate business needs. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls can help detect and prevent malicious path traversal attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments, as it requires authenticated access and could be exploited through crafted web requests. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file access patterns and path traversal attempts in web logs, particularly targeting the management interface components affected by this vulnerability.