CVE-2022-43949 in FortiSIEM
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2023
A use of a broken or risky cryptographic algorithm [CWE-327] in Fortinet FortiSIEM before 6.7.1 allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to perform brute force attacks on GUI endpoints via taking advantage of outdated hashing methods.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-43949 represents a critical cryptographic weakness in Fortinet FortiSIEM versions prior to 6.7.1, specifically classified under CWE-327 which addresses the use of broken or risky cryptographic algorithms. This flaw manifests in the system's implementation of outdated hashing methods within the graphical user interface endpoints, creating a significant security exposure that affects the overall integrity and confidentiality of the protected environment. The vulnerability exists due to the implementation of weak cryptographic primitives that fail to meet current security standards and best practices for password hashing and authentication mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from FortiSIEM's reliance on deprecated hashing algorithms that are susceptible to brute force attacks without requiring authentication credentials. Attackers can exploit this weakness by targeting the GUI endpoints where user authentication occurs, leveraging the outdated cryptographic methods to systematically guess passwords through computational attacks. The broken cryptographic implementation allows for rapid password cracking attempts that would otherwise be computationally infeasible against modern secure hashing algorithms, effectively bypassing the intended security controls. This weakness directly impacts the authentication security model of the system, potentially enabling unauthorized access to administrative functions and sensitive data within the security information and event management environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it represents a fundamental flaw in the system's security architecture that could lead to complete compromise of the FortiSIEM appliance. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain administrative privileges without requiring valid credentials, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system manipulation, and disruption of security monitoring capabilities. The exposure affects organizations that depend on FortiSIEM for security event correlation, threat detection, and incident response, as the compromised system could provide attackers with access to critical security logs and monitoring data. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where FortiSIEM serves as a central security management platform, potentially enabling attackers to evade detection while establishing persistent access to the network infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to FortiSIEM version 6.7.1 or later, which addresses the cryptographic weaknesses through the implementation of industry-standard secure hashing algorithms. The remediation process should also include reviewing and strengthening authentication policies, implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of all network monitoring systems. Security teams should monitor for suspicious authentication attempts and network activity patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation, while also ensuring that all security appliances undergo regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar cryptographic vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110.003 for Brute Force and T1566.002 for Phishing, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that address both authentication weaknesses and user awareness training to prevent exploitation.