CVE-2023-41844 in FortiSandbox
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2023
A improper neutralization of input during web page generation ('cross-site scripting') vulnerability in Fortinet FortiSandbox 4.4.0 through 4.4.2, FortiSandbox 4.2 all versions, FortiSandbox 4.0 all versions, FortiSandbox 3.2 all versions, FortiSandbox 3.1 all versions, FortiSandbox 3.0.4 and above allows attacker to execute unauthorized code or commands via crafted HTTP requests in capture traffic endpoint.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2026
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within Fortinet FortiSandbox products across multiple versions including 4.4.0 through 4.4.2, 4.2.x series, 4.0.x series, 3.2.x series, 3.1.x series, and 3.0.4 and above. The flaw occurs during web page generation when the system fails to properly neutralize user input, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into web responses. This vulnerability specifically affects the capture traffic endpoint, which processes HTTP requests containing potentially malicious payloads. The improper input handling allows attackers to manipulate the application's response generation process, enabling the execution of unauthorized code or commands through carefully crafted HTTP requests that exploit the XSS vulnerability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows the patterns described in CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, where data entered by users is not properly sanitized before being included in web page content. Attackers can leverage this weakness by sending malicious HTTP requests that contain script code within the capture traffic endpoint parameters. When the vulnerable system processes these requests and generates web responses, the malicious scripts become embedded in the generated HTML content. This creates a persistent XSS vector that can be triggered when legitimate users view the affected web pages, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user or system. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and represents a classic client-side attack vector that can be escalated to more serious security incidents.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to potentially compromise entire network security operations. FortiSandbox systems are designed for security analysis and threat detection, making them critical components in network defense architectures. When compromised, attackers can manipulate the sandbox environment to bypass security controls, alter analysis results, or redirect malicious traffic processing. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of these security appliances, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive network data, manipulate security policies, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. This represents a significant risk to organizations relying on FortiSandbox for security operations, as it could undermine the integrity of security analysis processes and provide attackers with elevated privileges within the security monitoring environment.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data within the capture traffic endpoint functionality. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of vulnerable endpoints to untrusted networks. Regular security updates and patches from Fortinet should be deployed immediately to address this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique involving code injection and privilege escalation through web application vulnerabilities. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious HTTP request patterns and unusual traffic flows through the capture endpoint. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their FortiSandbox deployments to identify and remediate similar issues throughout their security infrastructure.