CVE-2023-28000 in FortiADC
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2023
An improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command vulnerability [CWE-78] in FortiADC CLI 7.1.0, 7.0.0 through 7.0.3, 6.2.0 through 6.2.4, 6.1 all versions, 6.0 all versions may allow a local and authenticated attacker to execute unauthorized commands via specifically crafted arguments in diagnose system df CLI command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-28000 represents a critical command injection flaw in FortiADC CLI implementations across multiple versions including 7.1.0, 7.0.0 through 7.0.3, 6.2.0 through 6.2.4, and all versions of 6.1 and 6.0 series. This vulnerability specifically targets the diagnose system df CLI command, which is designed to display disk space information within the Fortinet FortiADC application delivery controller platform. The flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization and validation mechanisms that fail to properly neutralize special command elements, creating an environment where maliciously crafted arguments can be interpreted and executed as operating system commands by the underlying system shell. This vulnerability falls under CWE-78, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in operating system commands, making it a direct implementation of the well-known command injection weakness. The attack vector requires local authentication access, meaning an attacker must first establish a valid login session to the FortiADC device before exploiting this vulnerability, but this prerequisite does not mitigate the severity of the potential impact.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized command execution, as it provides attackers with elevated privileges to perform actions that could compromise the entire network infrastructure managed by the FortiADC appliance. When an authenticated user submits specifically crafted arguments to the diagnose system df CLI command, the system processes these inputs without proper sanitization, allowing the attacker to inject malicious shell commands that execute with the privileges of the CLI session. This could enable attackers to manipulate system configurations, access sensitive data, install malware, or even escalate privileges to root level access depending on the execution context. The vulnerability affects a broad range of FortiADC versions, indicating a widespread exposure across different product generations and suggesting that organizations maintaining legacy systems may be particularly at risk. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script interpreter, specifically targeting the execution of system commands through legitimate administrative interfaces. The ability to execute arbitrary commands through a diagnostic interface represents a particularly dangerous attack surface since these tools are typically expected to be secure and limited in scope.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations to protect their FortiADC deployments and reduce the attack surface. The primary remediation strategy involves applying the latest security patches released by Fortinet, which should address the input validation issues in the diagnose system df CLI command implementation. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enhanced to limit local administrative access to only trusted personnel, reducing the potential attack surface for privilege escalation. System monitoring and logging should be configured to detect unusual command execution patterns, particularly around diagnostic commands that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting controls and input validation rules to prevent malicious payloads from being processed through CLI interfaces. The vulnerability's presence in multiple FortiADC versions underscores the importance of comprehensive vulnerability management programs that include regular security assessments, patch deployment schedules, and continuous monitoring of security advisories from vendors. Additionally, organizations should conduct security awareness training for system administrators to recognize potential exploitation attempts and maintain detailed audit trails of CLI session activities to facilitate incident response and forensic analysis in case of successful exploitation attempts.