A critical vulnerability has been discovered in several versions of Fortinet FortiNAC, which is a network access control solution that provides security and visibility into devices connected to the network. This vulnerability, labeled as CVE-2022-39952, allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute unauthorized code or commands via a specifically crafted HTTP request. Affected versions include 9.4., 9.2. through 9.2.5, 9.1. through 9.1.7, 8.8. through 8.8.11, 8.7. through 8.7.6, 8.6. through 8.6.5, 8.5. through 8.5.4, and 8.3.7.

Exploit Details

The vulnerability stems from external control of a file name or path within the FortiNAC software. By manipulating the file path or name, an attacker could gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, modify or delete data, or cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on the affected system.

Here is an example of a malicious HTTP request exploiting the vulnerability

POST /vulnerable/path HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com
Content-Type: application/json
Content-Length: <length>

{
  "file_path": "../../../../../../etc/passwd"
}

In this example, an attacker sends a specially-crafted HTTP request to an affected FortiNAC system, which exploits the vulnerability by traversing the file system and accessing the "passwd" file, which contains sensitive user information.

Fortinet's official security advisory, which documents the vulnerability and affected versions:

Fortinet Advisory
2. The National Vulnerability Database, which assigns and maintains information about CVEs, including the description and severity rating for CVE-2022-39952:
  NVD - CVE-2022-39952

Mitigation and Patch Information

Affected users are advised to update their Fortinet FortiNAC installations to the latest available versions that contain fixes for the vulnerability. Information on the patching process can be found in Fortinet's product documentation:

- Fortinet Product Documentation

In addition to applying the latest patches, users can implement the following best practices to minimize the risk of exploitation:

Implement network segmentation to limit the potential attack surface.

3. Monitor and analyze logs to detect any suspicious activity that could indicate an attempt to exploit this vulnerability.

Conclusion

CVE-2022-39952 is a critical vulnerability found in multiple versions of Fortinet FortiNAC, which has the potential to allow an unauthenticated attacker to execute unauthorized code or commands through a crafted HTTP request. Users of affected software versions should immediately apply the latest patches to mitigate the risk of exploitation. Regularly monitoring and updating the software, alongside implementing best security practices, will help maintain a secure network environment.

Timeline

Published on: 02/16/2023 19:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 02/24/2023 23:46:00 UTC