We would like to bring to your attention a newly discovered authentication bypass vulnerability within FortiOS, FortiProxy and FortiSwitchManager. This vulnerability is currently being actively exploited.
An authentication bypass has been identified using an alternate path or channel vulnerability [CWE-288] in FortiOS, FortiProxy and FortiSwitchManager which allows an unauthenticated attacker to perform operations on the administrative interface via specially crafted HTTP or HTTPS requests. The vulnerability has been issued the identifier CVE-2022-40684 and has been given a CVSS score of 9.6.
Affected Products
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FortiOS version 7.2.0 through 7.2.1
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FortiOS version 7.0.0 through 7.0.6
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FortiProxy version 7.2.0
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FortiProxy version 7.0.0
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FortiSwitchManager version 7.2.0
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FortiSwitchManager version 7.0.0
Detection
The current version of FortiOS / FortiGate can be checked with the following command, and should be checked against the known affected products above:
get system status
Additional Fortinet recommend to check the device’s log for the following strings to help detected compromised devices:
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user=”Local_Process_Access”
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user_interface=”Node.js”
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user_interface=”Report Runner”
Exploited hosts may show records for these strings.
Remediation
Whilst a workaround has been provided, current best guidance for remediating this issue to update to an unaffected version.
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FortiOS should be updated to version 7.2.2 or above and version 7.0.7 or above.
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FortiProxy should be updated to version 7.2.1 or above and version 7.0.7 or above.
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FortiSwitchManager should be updated to version 7.2.1 or above.
References
Handala & MuddyWater: MDM Weaponization at Enterprise Scale
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