SQL Injection Vulnerability in Fortinet FortiClientEMS Products
CVE-2023-48788

9.3CRITICAL

Key Information:

Vendor
Fortinet
Status
Forticlientems
Vendor
CVE Published:
12 March 2024

Badges

🥇 Trended No. 1📈 Trended📈 Score: 8,540💰 Ransomware👾 Exploit Exists🟡 Public PoC🟣 EPSS 96%🦅 CISA Reported📰 News Worthy

What is CVE-2023-48788?

CVE-2023-48788 is a critical vulnerability affecting Fortinet's FortiClientEMS, a security management solution designed to help organizations manage their endpoint security. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of SQL commands, which allows an attacker to execute unauthorized code through specially crafted input. This can potentially compromise the security integrity of the affected systems, leading to unauthorized access and control, data leakage, or operational disruptions within an organization.

Technical Details

The vulnerability is categorized as an SQL injection flaw found in specific versions of FortiClientEMS (versions 7.2.0 through 7.2.2 and 7.0.1 through 7.0.10). It results from the application's failure to properly neutralize special characters in SQL commands, permitting an attacker to manipulate queries sent to the database. By exploiting this weakness, attackers can send malicious requests that the application might execute, leading to significant security compromises.

Potential Impact of CVE-2023-48788

  1. Unauthorized Code Execution: The most critical impact of this vulnerability is the ability for attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, which can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data and system functions.

  2. Data Breaches: Exploitation of CVE-2023-48788 can facilitate data breaches, potentially exposing confidential information held by organizations and leading to compliance violations and reputational damage.

  3. Operational Disruptions: Successful attacks exploiting this vulnerability could result in disruptions to business operations, including service outages or the deployment of additional malware, thereby affecting productivity and increasing recovery costs.

CISA Reported

CISA provides regional cyber and physical services to support security and resilience across the United States. CISA monitor the most dangerious vulnerabilities and have identifed as being exploited and is known by the CISA as enabling ransomware campaigns.

The CISA's recommendation is: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Affected Version(s)

FortiClientEMS 7.2.0 <= 7.2.2

FortiClientEMS 7.0.1 <= 7.0.10

Exploit Proof of Concept (PoC)

PoC code is written by security researchers to demonstrate the vulnerability can be exploited. PoC code is also a key component for weaponization which could lead to ransomware.

CVE-2023-48788
Created by horizon3ai

News Articles

favicon imageThe Hacker News

Hackers Exploiting Critical Fortinet EMS Vulnerability to Deploy Remote Access Tools

Fortinet EMS flaw (CVE-2023-48788, CVSS 9.3) exploited globally, dropping remote access tools and stealing credentials.

3 weeks ago

favicon imageCyber Security News

Hackers Exploiting FortiClient EMS Vulnerability (CVE-2023-48788) in the Wild

Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered active exploitation of a critical vulnerability in Fortinet's FortiClient Enterprise Management Server (EMS), tracked as CVE-2023-48788.

3 weeks ago

favicon imageSC Media

Fortinet patches FortiClientLinux critical RCE vulnerability

The vulnerability is due to a “dangerous nodejs configuration” and has a CVSS score of 9.4.

1 month ago

References

https://fortiguard.com/psirt/FG-IR-24-007

EPSS Score

96% chance of being exploited in the next 30 days.

CVSS V3.1

Score:
9.3
Severity:
CRITICAL
Confidentiality:
High
Integrity:
High
Availability:
High
Attack Vector:
Network
Attack Complexity:
Low
Privileges Required:
None
User Interaction:
None
Scope:
Unchanged

Timeline

  • 🦅

    CISA Reported

  • 🟡

    Public PoC available

  • 💰

    Used in Ransomware

  • 👾

    Exploit known to exist

  • 🥇

    Vulnerability reached the number 1 worldwide trending spot

  • 📈

    Vulnerability started trending

  • 📰

    First article discovered by Beeping Computers

  • Vulnerability published

  • Vulnerability Reserved

Collectors

NVD DatabaseMitre DatabaseCISA Database1 Proof of Concept(s)23 News Article(s)
.