CVE-2023-33301 in FortiOS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
An improper access control vulnerability in Fortinet FortiOS 7.2.0 - 7.2.4 and 7.4.0 allows an attacker to access a restricted resource from a non trusted host.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-33301 represents a critical improper access control flaw within Fortinet FortiOS versions 7.2.0 through 7.2.4 and 7.4.0. This weakness stems from insufficient validation of incoming requests from untrusted network hosts, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to protected resources within the firewall system. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms that govern access to sensitive components within the FortiOS operating system, potentially allowing remote attackers to bypass normal security controls.
This access control failure manifests when the system fails to properly verify the legitimacy of connection attempts from external hosts. The flaw enables attackers to exploit the system's trust model by crafting malicious requests that appear to originate from trusted sources, thereby circumventing the normal access control checks that should prevent unauthorized resource access. The vulnerability operates at the network layer where the system's security policies are enforced, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring prior authentication credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can potentially enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain deeper system control. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could access sensitive configuration data, modify security policies, or even gain administrative access to the firewall appliance. The affected versions span multiple release branches, indicating this weakness has persisted across different FortiOS releases, potentially affecting a wide range of deployed security infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-285, which describes improper access control, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering, as the flaw enables unauthorized access through legitimate system interfaces.
Organizations utilizing affected FortiOS versions should immediately implement mitigations including network segmentation to limit access to the firewall management interfaces, deployment of additional access controls through network firewalls, and application of the latest security patches provided by Fortinet. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in security infrastructure, where a single flaw can compromise entire network security postures. System administrators should conduct thorough audits of their firewall configurations and monitor for suspicious access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The incident highlights the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security controls and the potential risks associated with legacy systems that may not receive timely security updates.