Fortinets latest CVE vulnerability and what you need to know

CVE-2023-48788: The Latest Fortinet Vulnerability

In recent developments, Fortinet has issued warnings regarding critical security vulnerabilities affecting its FortiClient EMS software and other products. These vulnerabilities, if left unaddressed, could lead to severe consequences, including unauthorized code execution and potential exploitation by threat actors. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding these vulnerabilities and the necessary steps to secure your Fortinet systems.

Understanding CVE-2023-48788: The Latest Fortinet Vulnerability

CVE-2023-48788 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability discovered in Fortinet FortiClient EMS. According to Fortinet, exploitation of the vulnerability could allow remote attackers to execute unauthorized code or commands. This vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS score of 9.3 out of 10, indicating its severity.

FortiClient EMS Vulnerability

Fortinet has identified a critical security flaw in its FortiClient EMS software, tracked as CVE-2023-48788, with a CVSS rating of 9.3 out of 10. This vulnerability arises from an improper neutralization of special SQL elements, potentially allowing unauthenticated attackers to execute unauthorized code or commands through crafted requests. Affected versions include:

• FortiClient EMS 7.2.0 through 7.2.2 (Upgrade to 7.2.3 or above)
• FortiClient EMS 7.0.1 through 7.0.10 (Upgrade to 7.0.11 or above)

What is SQL Injection?

SQL injection is a code injection technique where malicious SQL statements are inserted into an entry field for execution, allowing attackers to gain access to your database. In this vulnerability, remote attackers may be able to access Fortinet's database server by injecting SQL commands into vulnerable HTML forms, queries, and APIs.

How Does It Affect You?

If you're using an affected version of FortiClient EMS, your systems and data may be at risk. Attackers could access private customer information or use the vulnerability to distribute malware. As a precaution, Fortinet recommends customers running affected versions to upgrade immediately to the fixed versions.

Additional Vulnerabilities and Fixes

In addition to the FortiClient EMS vulnerability, Fortinet has also addressed two other critical bugs affecting FortiOS and FortiProxy, tracked as CVE-2023-42789 and CVE-2023-42790, with CVSS scores of 9.3. These vulnerabilities could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or commands via specially crafted HTTP requests. Affected product versions and recommended upgrades include:

• FortiOS versions 7.4.0 through 7.4.1 (Upgrade to 7.4.2 or above)
• FortiOS versions 7.2.0 through 7.2.5 (Upgrade to 7.2.6 or above)
• FortiOS versions 7.0.0 through 7.0.12 (Upgrade to 7.0.13 or above)
• FortiOS versions 6.4.0 through 6.4.14 (Upgrade to 6.4.15 or above)
• FortiOS versions 6.2.0 through 6.2.15 (Upgrade to 6.2.16 or above)
• FortiProxy versions 7.4.0 (Upgrade to 7.4.1 or above)
• FortiProxy versions 7.2.0 through 7.2.6 (Upgrade to 7.2.7 or above)
• FortiProxy versions 7.0.0 through 7.0.12 (Upgrade to 7.0.13 or above)
• FortiProxy versions 2.0.0 through 2.0.13 (Upgrade to 2.0.14 or above)

Conclusion

While there is currently no evidence of active exploitation of these vulnerabilities, history has shown that unpatched Fortinet appliances are susceptible to exploitation by threat actors. It is crucial for organizations to promptly apply the recommended updates to secure their infrastructure and mitigate potential risks.