CVE-2023-23784 in FortiWeb
Summary
by MITRE • 02/16/2023
A relative path traversal in Fortinet FortiWeb version 7.0.0 through 7.0.2, FortiWeb version 6.3.6 through 6.3.20, FortiWeb 6.4 all versions allows attacker to information disclosure via specially crafted web requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical relative path traversal flaw in Fortinet FortiWeb web application firewalls that affects multiple version ranges including 7.0.0 through 7.0.2, 6.3.6 through 6.3.20, and all versions of 6.4. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data in web requests, allowing attackers to manipulate file path references and access arbitrary files on the underlying system. This issue maps directly to CWE-22 known as "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for data from information repositories. The flaw enables attackers to traverse directory structures and retrieve sensitive information such as configuration files, authentication credentials, system logs, and other confidential data that should remain restricted to authorized personnel only.
The technical exploitation occurs when an attacker crafts malicious web requests containing directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ that bypass the intended access controls. These requests exploit the lack of proper path validation mechanisms within FortiWeb's processing pipeline, allowing the system to interpret and resolve the crafted paths relative to the web root directory. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the application layer and can be exploited through standard HTTP requests without requiring elevated privileges or specialized tools. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information that could aid in further exploitation attempts, including privilege escalation, lateral movement, and comprehensive system compromise. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as the leaked data could contain cryptographic keys, database credentials, or system configurations that provide attackers with additional attack vectors.
Organizations running affected FortiWeb versions face significant operational risks including potential data breaches, compliance violations, and system compromise. The vulnerability creates an attack surface that allows adversaries to systematically enumerate and extract valuable information from the protected web applications, potentially leading to complete system infiltration. Security teams must consider the implications of attackers gaining access to system-level information that could reveal network architecture, security configurations, and operational details. The vulnerability also poses challenges for incident response and forensic analysis since attackers can potentially hide their activities by accessing system logs and monitoring data. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Fortinet, implementing network segmentation, and deploying additional monitoring controls to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The risk assessment should include comprehensive vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and access control reviews to identify potential exploitation vectors and ensure proper system hardening measures are in place.