CVE-2024-50565 in FortiOS
Summary
by MITRE • 04/08/2025
A improper restriction of communication channel to intended endpoints vulnerability [CWE-923] in Fortinet FortiOS version 7.4.0 through 7.4.3, 7.2.0 through 7.2.7, 7.0.0 through 7.0.14, 6.4.0 through 6.4.15 and 6.2.0 through 6.2.16, Fortinet FortiProxy version 7.4.0 through 7.4.2, 7.2.0 through 7.2.9, 7.0.0 through 7.0.15 and 2.0.0 through 2.0.14, Fortinet FortiManager version 7.4.0 through 7.4.2, 7.2.0 through 7.2.4, 7.0.0 through 7.0.11, 6.4.0 through 6.4.14 and 6.2.0 through 6.2.13, Fortinet FortiAnalyzer version 7.4.0 through 7.4.2, 7.2.0 through 7.2.4, 7.0.0 through 7.0.11, 6.4.0 through 6.4.14 and 6.2.0 through 6.2.13, Fortinet FortiVoice version 7.0.0 through 7.0.2, 6.4.0 through 6.4.8 and 6.0.0 through 6.0.12 and Fortinet FortiWeb version 7.4.0 through 7.4.2, 7.2.0 through 7.2.10, 7.0.0 through 7.0.10 allows an unauthenticated attacker in a man-in-the-middle position to impersonate the management device (FortiCloud server or/and in certain conditions, FortiManager), via intercepting the FGFM authentication request between the management device and the managed device
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical weakness in Fortinet's network security infrastructure where improper restrictions on communication channels allow attackers to intercept and manipulate management traffic between devices. The flaw specifically affects multiple Fortinet products including FortiOS, FortiProxy, FortiManager, FortiAnalyzer, FortiVoice, and FortiWeb across several version ranges, making it a widespread concern for organizations relying on these security solutions. The vulnerability falls under CWE-923 which categorizes issues related to improper restriction of communication channels to intended endpoints, fundamentally compromising the integrity of device management communications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of communication endpoints during the FGFM (Fortinet Gateway Forwarding Management) authentication process. When management devices communicate with managed devices, the authentication requests can be intercepted by attackers positioned in a man-in-the-middle role. This allows unauthorized parties to impersonate legitimate management devices such as FortiCloud servers or FortiManager systems, effectively breaking the trust model that should exist between management and managed devices. The weakness enables attackers to establish unauthorized control over device management functions without requiring authentication credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, particularly for organizations utilizing Fortinet's security infrastructure. Attackers can gain unauthorized access to device management interfaces, potentially leading to complete compromise of network security policies and configurations. The ability to impersonate management devices means that attackers can modify security rules, access sensitive data, and manipulate device behavior without detection. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on centralized management systems where FortiManager or FortiCloud serves as the primary management point, as these systems become prime targets for exploitation. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially undermine entire network security postures.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate management traffic, deployment of strong encryption protocols, and implementation of additional authentication layers beyond the vulnerable FGFM channel. Network administrators should consider disabling unnecessary management services and implementing strict access controls for management interfaces. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers legitimate credentials and T1566.002 which involves spearphishing with social engineering, as attackers can leverage this weakness to gain persistent access to management systems. Regular security audits and monitoring for unusual management traffic patterns should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations must also ensure timely patch deployment when vendor updates become available to address this specific communication channel restriction issue.