CVE-2022-41333 in FortiRecorder
Summary
by MITRE • 03/07/2023
An uncontrolled resource consumption vulnerability [CWE-400] in FortiRecorder version 6.4.3 and below, 6.0.11 and below login authentication mechanism may allow an unauthenticated attacker to make the device unavailable via crafted GET requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-41333 represents a critical resource exhaustion flaw within FortiRecorder devices that operates at the application layer and affects multiple versions of the software. This issue manifests through an uncontrolled resource consumption mechanism classified under CWE-400, which specifically targets the authentication mechanism of the FortiRecorder platform. The vulnerability exists in versions 6.4.3 and earlier as well as 6.0.11 and earlier, indicating a long-standing weakness in the system's design that has persisted across multiple release cycles. The attack vector involves crafted GET requests that can be executed by unauthenticated attackers, bypassing traditional authentication barriers that would normally prevent such malicious activity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the device's handling of incoming HTTP GET requests during the login authentication process. When a malicious actor sends specially crafted GET requests to the affected FortiRecorder device, the system fails to properly validate or limit the resource consumption associated with these requests. This leads to a situation where the device's processing capabilities become overwhelmed through repeated or particularly resource-intensive request patterns. The authentication mechanism, which should normally act as a gatekeeper for system resources, becomes ineffective due to the vulnerability, allowing unauthorized users to consume system resources without proper authentication. This behavior aligns with the broader category of denial of service attacks as outlined in the ATT&CK framework under the T1499 technique category, specifically targeting the availability of system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the overall integrity and availability of the network monitoring infrastructure that FortiRecorder provides. Organizations relying on these devices for security monitoring and logging may find their critical infrastructure unavailable during an attack, creating windows of potential security exposure where network traffic cannot be properly monitored or analyzed. The vulnerability's ability to affect unauthenticated attackers means that even individuals without legitimate credentials can exploit the system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical or network access may be limited. The resource consumption aspect creates a cascading effect where legitimate users and systems may experience degraded performance or complete service failure. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad, specifically targeting the availability component while potentially affecting confidentiality and integrity through the disruption of security monitoring functions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-41333 should prioritize immediate software updates to versions that have patched the resource consumption flaw, as this represents the most direct approach to resolving the vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of FortiRecorder devices to untrusted networks, reducing the attack surface available to potential attackers. Implementing rate limiting mechanisms at the network perimeter can help detect and prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability by monitoring for unusual request patterns. Security teams should also establish monitoring procedures to detect abnormal resource consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-400 highlights the importance of proper resource management and input validation in software design, making it essential for organizations to review their own applications for similar flaws. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify crafted GET requests and automated response mechanisms can provide defense in depth against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control lists that restrict direct access to FortiRecorder devices from untrusted sources, reducing the likelihood of successful exploitation while maintaining necessary operational functionality.