CVE-2024-35280 in FortiDeceptor
Summary
by MITRE • 01/15/2025
A improper neutralization of input during web page generation ('cross-site scripting') vulnerability in Fortinet FortiDeceptor 5.3.0, FortiDeceptor 5.2.0, FortiDeceptor 5.1 all versions, FortiDeceptor 5.0 all versions, FortiDeceptor 4.3 all versions, FortiDeceptor 4.2 all versions, FortiDeceptor 4.1 all versions, FortiDeceptor 4.0 all versions, FortiDeceptor 3.3 all versions, FortiDeceptor 3.2 all versions, FortiDeceptor 3.1 all versions, FortiDeceptor 3.0 all versions may allow an attacker to perform a reflected cross-site scripting attack in the recovery endpoints
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw that affects multiple versions of Fortinet FortiDeceptor network security appliances. The issue stems from inadequate input sanitization during web page generation processes, specifically within the recovery endpoints of these security devices. The vulnerability has been classified under CWE-79 which details improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic reflected XSS attack vector. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that get reflected back to users through the vulnerable recovery endpoints, potentially executing arbitrary scripts in the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the FortiDeceptor appliances fail to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. This flaw exists in the recovery endpoints, which are typically used for system recovery operations and may be accessed by administrators or potentially unauthorized users. When malicious input is processed through these endpoints without proper validation or encoding, the system becomes vulnerable to reflected XSS attacks where attacker-controlled scripts can be executed in the victim's browser. The vulnerability affects all versions from 3.0 through 5.3, indicating a widespread issue that spans multiple major releases of the FortiDeceptor platform.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on FortiDeceptor for network security monitoring and deception operations. An attacker who successfully exploits this reflected XSS vulnerability could potentially gain unauthorized access to administrative functions, steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute arbitrary code within the victim's browser context. This could lead to complete compromise of the FortiDeceptor management interface, allowing unauthorized personnel to manipulate security policies, view sensitive monitoring data, or disable security features. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that recovery endpoints are often accessible through standard web interfaces and may not be properly protected or monitored.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest firmware updates from Fortinet which address this specific XSS vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened around the FortiDeceptor management interfaces to limit exposure. Input validation should be enhanced at the application level, with proper HTML encoding and output sanitization implemented for all user-supplied data. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in recovery endpoint access attempts, and administrators should be trained to recognize potential XSS attack indicators. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 which covers command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute commands through browser-based attack vectors. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation as outlined in OWASP Top 10 2021 category A03:2021 - Injection, where inadequate input sanitization creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious payloads into web applications.