CVE-2023-29178 in FortiOS
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2023
A access of uninitialized pointer vulnerability [CWE-824] in Fortinet FortiProxy version 7.2.0 through 7.2.3 and before 7.0.9 and FortiOS version 7.2.0 through 7.2.4 and before 7.0.11 allows an authenticated attacker to repetitively crash the httpsd process via crafted HTTP or HTTPS requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-29178 represents a critical access of uninitialized pointer flaw classified under CWE-824, affecting Fortinet FortiProxy and FortiOS appliances. This security weakness manifests in versions 7.2.0 through 7.2.3 and prior to 7.0.9 for FortiProxy, alongside FortiOS versions 7.2.0 through 7.2.4 and before 7.0.11. The flaw specifically targets the httpsd process within these network security devices, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to induce repeated system crashes through carefully crafted HTTP or HTTPS requests.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the httpsd process attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly initialized, leading to unpredictable behavior and system instability. This uninitialized pointer access creates conditions where the process can be forced into a crash state through repetitive malformed request sequences. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning as it allows for sustained disruption of network services, potentially leading to denial of service conditions that can affect critical business operations and network availability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on Fortinet's security infrastructure, as authenticated attackers with legitimate access credentials can leverage this flaw to disrupt service availability. The repetitive nature of the attack means that a single authenticated user could potentially maintain prolonged disruption of the httpsd process, affecting secure web traffic handling capabilities. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the availability component of the CIA triad and can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks, particularly targeting network infrastructure components.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of Fortinet's security patches and firmware updates addressing versions 7.0.9 and 7.0.11 for FortiOS, and 7.2.4 for FortiProxy. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the scope of potential exploitation, while monitoring for unusual patterns in httpsd process behavior. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar uninitialized pointer vulnerabilities in other network infrastructure components, aligning with industry standards for secure coding practices and memory management as outlined in CWE-824 and related security frameworks.