CVE-2022-41327 in FortiOS
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2023
A cleartext transmission of sensitive information vulnerability [CWE-319] in Fortinet FortiOS version 7.2.0 through 7.2.4, 7.0.0 through 7.0.8, FortiProxy version 7.2.0 through 7.2.1 and 7.0.0 through 7.0.8 allows an authenticated attacker with readonly superadmin privileges to intercept traffic in order to obtain other adminstrators cookies via diagnose CLI commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-41327 represents a critical cleartext transmission flaw that affects multiple Fortinet FortiOS and FortiProxy versions. This vulnerability falls under CWE-319, which specifically addresses the transmission of sensitive information in cleartext over networks, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise security contexts where administrative access and session management are paramount. The flaw exists in FortiOS versions 7.2.0 through 7.2.4 and 7.0.0 through 7.0.8, as well as FortiProxy versions 7.2.0 through 7.2.1 and 7.0.0 through 7.0.8, creating a widespread impact across Fortinet's security infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an authenticated attacker with readonly superadmin privileges to exploit diagnostic CLI commands to intercept network traffic and obtain administrative cookies. This attack vector demonstrates a significant weakness in the session management and traffic encryption mechanisms within these Fortinet products. The attacker does not require full administrative privileges, only readonly superadmin access, which makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised accounts with limited access rights. The diagnostic CLI commands serve as the attack surface where sensitive session information is transmitted without proper encryption, creating an opportunity for man-in-the-middle attacks and session hijacking.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as administrative cookies provide access to critical system functions and configurations. When an attacker successfully intercepts these cookies, they gain the ability to impersonate administrative users and potentially escalate their privileges within the system. This vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles outlined in the ATT&CK framework under credential access and privilege escalation techniques, where adversaries can leverage intercepted session tokens to maintain persistent access. The implications are severe as these administrative sessions often contain sensitive information about network topology, security policies, and system configurations that could be leveraged for further attacks within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate implementation of network segmentation and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to diagnostic commands. Organizations should enforce strict access controls and implement role-based permissions that prevent readonly users from executing diagnostic functions that could expose session information. Network traffic should be encrypted using TLS 1.3 or higher protocols for all administrative communications, and the use of secure shell protocols should be mandatory for all administrative sessions. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in network infrastructure components, while implementing comprehensive logging and monitoring solutions to detect suspicious activities involving diagnostic CLI commands. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in administrative interfaces to prevent information leakage through diagnostic functions.