CVE-2023-22633 in FortiNAC
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2023
An improper permissions, privileges, and access controls vulnerability [CWE-264] in FortiNAC-F 7.2.0, FortiNAC 9.4.1 and below, 9.2.6 and below, 9.1.8 and below, 8.8.0 all versions 8.7.0 all versions may allow an unauthenticated attacker to perform a DoS attack on the device via client-secure renegotiation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-22633 represents a critical access control weakness classified under CWE-264, which specifically addresses improper permissions, privileges, and access controls within network security systems. This flaw affects multiple versions of FortiNAC-F software including FortiNAC 7.2.0, versions 9.4.1 and below, 9.2.6 and below, 9.1.8 and below, as well as all versions of FortiNAC 8.7.0 and 8.8.0. The vulnerability manifests through a particularly dangerous vector involving client-secure renegotiation processes that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers to execute denial of service attacks against affected systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of secure renegotiation mechanisms within the FortiNAC network access control platform. When client-secure renegotiation is initiated, the system fails to properly validate authentication credentials or access permissions, allowing unauthorized users to exploit this weakness without requiring any prior authentication. This creates a scenario where attackers can consume system resources or disrupt normal operations through carefully crafted requests that trigger the vulnerable renegotiation process. The flaw essentially undermines the fundamental security model that FortiNAC implements to protect network access control services, creating an entry point for malicious actors to compromise system availability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it represents a significant threat to network infrastructure integrity and availability. An unauthenticated attacker can leverage this weakness to perform sustained denial of service attacks that may result in complete service unavailability, requiring system administrators to implement emergency mitigation measures. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of FortiNAC's network access control capabilities, potentially leaving organizations without proper network segmentation and access control enforcement. This can create cascading effects throughout the enterprise network as security policies and access controls become compromised or unavailable during attack periods.
Organizations utilizing affected FortiNAC versions should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability while planning for comprehensive system updates. The most effective immediate response involves restricting access to vulnerable network services through firewall rules that block unauthorized access to the affected renegotiation endpoints. Network segmentation strategies should be enhanced to limit the exposure of vulnerable systems to untrusted networks. Additionally, administrators should monitor system logs for unusual patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include applying the latest security patches from Fortinet as soon as they become available, while maintaining detailed documentation of the vulnerability assessment and mitigation activities. This vulnerability aligns with attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and denial of service categories, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches to protect against such threats.