CVE-2024-54020 in FortiManager
Summary
by MITRE • 05/28/2025
A missing authorization in Fortinet FortiManager versions 7.2.0 through 7.2.1, and versions 7.0.0 through 7.0.7 may allow an authenticated attacker to overwrite global threat feeds via crafted update requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-54020 represents a critical authorization flaw within Fortinet FortiManager platforms, specifically affecting versions 7.2.0 through 7.2.1 and 7.0.0 through 7.0.7. This issue stems from insufficient access controls that permit authenticated attackers to manipulate global threat feeds through carefully crafted update requests. The flaw exists within the platform's security architecture where proper validation mechanisms fail to verify the authenticity and authorization status of update operations targeting critical threat intelligence resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the FortiManager's update request processing logic where the system does not adequately validate whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative privileges to modify global threat feed configurations. This missing authorization check creates an attack surface where authenticated users can escalate their privileges to perform unauthorized modifications. The flaw aligns with CWE-863, which specifically addresses "Incorrect Authorization" conditions where the system fails to properly verify access rights before allowing operations that affect system security parameters. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can potentially compromise the integrity of threat intelligence feeds that are critical for network security monitoring and threat detection across multiple managed devices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it directly affects the integrity and reliability of threat intelligence within enterprise security infrastructures. When global threat feeds are overwritten, organizations risk experiencing false positives or negatives in their security systems, potentially leading to missed threats or unnecessary alerts that could overwhelm security operations centers. The vulnerability particularly impacts organizations that rely heavily on FortiManager for centralized security management, as compromised threat feeds could affect multiple network segments simultaneously. This represents a significant concern from an ATT&CK framework perspective, specifically relating to T1566.001 for "Phishing" and T1071.004 for "Application Layer Protocol: DNS" where compromised threat intelligence could enable more sophisticated attack delivery mechanisms.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest Fortinet security patches and firmware updates that address the authorization gap in the update request handling mechanism. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual update activities targeting threat feed configurations. Access controls should be reviewed and strengthened to ensure that only authorized administrators can perform global configuration modifications. Security teams should also implement continuous monitoring of threat intelligence feed updates and establish baseline behaviors for normal update operations to quickly identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper authorization controls in security management platforms where the compromise of threat intelligence integrity can have cascading effects across an entire organization's security posture.