CVE-2024-23665 in FortiWeb
Summary
by MITRE • 06/03/2024
Multiple improper authorization vulnerabilities [CWE-285] in FortiWeb version 7.4.2 and below, version 7.2.7 and below, version 7.0.10 and below, version 6.4.3 and below, version 6.3.23 and below may allow an authenticated attacker to perform unauthorized ADOM operations via crafted requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-23665 represents a critical authorization flaw affecting multiple versions of FortiWeb, a web application firewall and security solution developed by Fortinet. This issue falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-285, which specifically addresses improper authorization conditions that can lead to unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability impacts FortiWeb versions 7.4.2 and below, 7.2.7 and below, 7.0.10 and below, 6.4.3 and below, and 6.3.23 and below, indicating a widespread issue across several major release lines of the product. The flaw manifests when authenticated attackers exploit weaknesses in the authorization mechanisms to perform unauthorized operations within ADOM (Administrative Domain) environments, which are fundamental components of Fortinet's security architecture used to isolate administrative domains within a single FortiGate or FortiWeb device.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user permissions and access controls within the FortiWeb administrative interface. When an attacker successfully authenticates to the system, they can craft specially crafted requests that bypass normal authorization checks, allowing them to execute administrative operations that should only be available to users with appropriate privileges. This improper authorization mechanism creates a pathway for privilege escalation attacks where less privileged users can gain access to administrative functions and potentially full control over the device's configuration and security policies. The vulnerability specifically affects ADOM operations, which are critical administrative functions that manage different security domains within the FortiWeb appliance, making the impact particularly severe as it could allow attackers to modify security policies, access sensitive data, or disrupt service availability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it fundamentally compromises the security model of FortiWeb deployments. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially modify firewall rules, alter security policies, access logs and configuration data, or even disable security features entirely. This unauthorized access to ADOM operations could lead to complete compromise of the web application firewall's protective capabilities, leaving web applications vulnerable to various attacks including data breaches, injection attacks, and other exploitation techniques. The implications are particularly concerning in enterprise environments where FortiWeb is deployed to protect critical web applications and sensitive data, as this vulnerability could allow attackers to undermine the entire security posture of the organization's web infrastructure. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, as it enables attackers to gain higher privileges and potentially hide their activities within the system.
Organizations affected by CVE-2024-23665 should prioritize immediate remediation through official Fortinet security patches and updates. The vulnerability requires careful monitoring of authentication logs and network traffic for signs of exploitation attempts, as attackers may attempt to leverage this weakness before patches are deployed. Network segmentation and additional access controls should be implemented as temporary mitigations while permanent fixes are applied. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of FortiWeb configurations to identify any potential unauthorized access that may have occurred, and consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for unauthorized ADOM operations. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authorization controls in security appliances and highlights the need for regular security assessments of administrative interfaces to prevent similar issues from compromising enterprise security infrastructure.