CVE-2023-41673 in FortiADC
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2023
An improper authorization vulnerability [CWE-285] in Fortinet FortiADC version 7.4.0 and before 7.2.2 may allow a low privileged user to read or backup the full system configuration via HTTP or HTTPS requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-41673 represents a critical improper authorization flaw classified under CWE-285 within Fortinet FortiADC appliances running version 7.4.0 and earlier versions prior to 7.2.2. This weakness fundamentally undermines the access control mechanisms that should protect sensitive system configurations from unauthorized access. The vulnerability exists in the web interface and command line interface components of the FortiADC platform, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit insufficient authorization checks during HTTP or HTTPS requests. The flaw specifically allows attackers with low privilege accounts to bypass normal access controls and obtain complete system configuration data through carefully crafted requests that should otherwise be restricted to administrators or privileged users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTTP or HTTPS requests that target the configuration management endpoints within the FortiADC system. Attackers can leverage their limited privileges to construct requests that traverse the normal authorization boundaries, effectively granting them access to backup and read operations on the complete system configuration. This includes sensitive information such as network settings, user credentials, access control policies, and other critical infrastructure parameters that would normally be protected from unauthorized access. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects multiple access vectors including both HTTP and HTTPS protocols, making it more difficult to contain and monitor.
The operational implications of this vulnerability extend far beyond simple information disclosure, as the complete system configuration provides attackers with comprehensive knowledge of the protected network infrastructure. This intelligence enables sophisticated attack vectors including network mapping, identification of security controls, and development of targeted attacks against other systems within the network perimeter. The compromised configuration data could reveal internal network topology, firewall rules, load balancing configurations, and authentication mechanisms that could be leveraged for further lateral movement or privilege escalation attacks. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1566 (Phishing) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) when combined with the reconnaissance phase, and T1529 (System Shutdown/Reboot) when used to disrupt services through configuration manipulation.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Fortinet FortiADC version 7.2.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the improper authorization flaw. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual HTTP or HTTPS requests targeting configuration endpoints, particularly from accounts with low privilege levels. Access controls should be reviewed and strengthened to ensure that only authorized administrative users can access system configuration data through web interfaces. Security teams should also implement regular configuration audits and establish baseline monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper authorization controls in network security appliances and demonstrates how insufficient access control mechanisms can create cascading security risks throughout the entire infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege practices and regular security assessments to identify similar authorization flaws in other network components.