CVE-2023-44253 in FortiManager
Summary
by MITRE • 02/15/2024
An exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor vulnerability [CWE-200] in Fortinet FortiManager version 7.4.0 through 7.4.1 and before 7.2.5, FortiAnalyzer version 7.4.0 through 7.4.1 and before 7.2.5 and FortiAnalyzer-BigData before 7.2.5 allows an adom administrator to enumerate other adoms and device names via crafted HTTP or HTTPS requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical information disclosure flaw that affects Fortinet's FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer products across specific version ranges. The issue stems from insufficient access controls and input validation mechanisms that allow authenticated administrators within a specific administrative domain to bypass normal authorization boundaries. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-200, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on these network security appliances for critical infrastructure protection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted HTTP or HTTPS requests that exploit weaknesses in the authentication and authorization framework of the affected Fortinet products. When an administrator from one administrative domain (adom) submits specially constructed requests, the system fails to properly validate the request context and may inadvertently disclose information about other administrative domains and their associated device configurations. This cross-domain information leakage represents a fundamental breakdown in the security model that Fortinet implemented to isolate administrative domains and protect sensitive network information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides potential attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that could facilitate more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who gains access to an adom administrator account can use this vulnerability to map the entire administrative structure of the Fortinet deployment, identifying other administrative domains, device names, and potentially sensitive configuration details. This information gathering capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1087.001 for account discovery and T1592.004 for reconnaissance, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple administrative domains are used to segment different network zones or organizational units. The ability to enumerate device names and administrative domains creates a pathway for targeted attacks against specific network segments and can reveal the overall network topology and security implementation strategy.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the patched versions of FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer where available, as these releases contain the necessary security fixes. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring for unusual request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control enforcement in security appliances, particularly those handling administrative functions. Organizations should also review their administrative domain configurations to ensure that unnecessary cross-domain access permissions are removed and that appropriate network segmentation is maintained between different administrative domains to limit the potential impact of such information disclosure vulnerabilities.