CVE-2024-21760

Remediation/Mitigation Strategy for CVE-2024-21760 - FortiSOAR Connector Code Injection Vulnerability

Vulnerability Description:

  • CVE ID: CVE-2024-21760
  • Vulnerability Type: Improper Control of Generation of Code (‘Code Injection’) [CWE-94]
  • Affected Product: FortiSOAR Connector
  • Affected Versions: FortiSOAR 7.4 all versions, 7.3 all versions, 7.2 all versions, 7.0 all versions, 6.4 all versions
  • Description: This vulnerability allows an authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on the host system via a malicious playbook code snippet. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the FortiSOAR Connector, allowing specially crafted code to be injected and executed.

Severity:

  • CVSS v3 Score: 8.4 (High)
  • Attack Vector: Network (can be exploited remotely with network access)
  • Attack Complexity: Low (relatively easy to exploit once authentication is achieved)
  • Privileges Required: Low (requires only authenticated access to FortiSOAR)
  • User Interaction: None (no user interaction required after initial authentication)
  • Scope: Changed (exploitation can allow the attacker to control resources beyond the initial vulnerable component)
  • Confidentiality Impact: High (attacker can access sensitive data)
  • Integrity Impact: High (attacker can modify system files and data)
  • Availability Impact: High (attacker can cause a denial-of-service condition)

Known Exploit:

While the specifics of the exploit code are not provided in the summary, the description clearly indicates that a specifically crafted playbook code snippet can trigger the vulnerability. The key is the improper handling and execution of user-supplied code within the connector. Expect publicly available proof-of-concept (POC) exploits and/or fully weaponized exploits to emerge soon, if they have not already. The fact that it affects all versions of FortiSOAR connectors makes it a critical vulnerability to address.

Remediation/Mitigation Strategy:

Given the severity and potential impact of this vulnerability, a multi-pronged approach is recommended:

  1. Immediate Patching (Highest Priority):

    • Action: Apply the security patch or upgrade to a fixed version of FortiSOAR Connector as soon as it is released by Fortinet. This is the most important step. Monitor Fortinet’s PSIRT advisories ([email protected]) and the Fortinet support portal for updates and patch availability.
    • Justification: Patching directly addresses the root cause of the vulnerability by fixing the code injection flaw.

  2. Workaround (If Patching is Not Immediately Possible):

    • Action: If a patch is not immediately available, implement temporary mitigations to reduce the risk:
      • Restrict Playbook Creation/Modification: Limit the ability to create or modify playbooks to only highly trusted administrators.
      • Input Validation and Sanitization: Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all playbook inputs, particularly those that handle code snippets. This is difficult without understanding the exact vulnerability but consider blocking characters and keywords commonly used in code injection attacks (e.g., eval(), exec(), shell commands, etc.).
      • Least Privilege: Ensure that the FortiSOAR instance and Connector are running with the least privileges necessary. Restrict access to sensitive resources.
      • Review Existing Playbooks: Thoroughly review all existing playbooks for any suspicious or potentially malicious code snippets. Pay close attention to playbooks that handle external data or execute arbitrary commands.
    • Justification: Workarounds reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of a successful exploit. They are a temporary measure until a patch is available.

  3. Monitoring and Detection:

    • Action:
      • Enable Logging: Ensure comprehensive logging is enabled on the FortiSOAR instance and Connector. Monitor logs for any suspicious activity, such as:
        • Unexpected execution of commands
        • Attempts to access unauthorized files or directories
        • Errors related to code execution
      • Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS): Configure IDS/IPS to detect and block attempts to exploit code injection vulnerabilities. Consider creating custom signatures based on known exploit patterns, if available.
      • File Integrity Monitoring (FIM): Implement FIM to monitor critical system files and directories for unauthorized changes.
    • Justification: Monitoring and detection help identify and respond to exploitation attempts in real-time, even if preventative measures fail.

  4. Security Awareness Training:

    • Action: Educate FortiSOAR administrators and users about the risks of code injection vulnerabilities and the importance of following secure coding practices.
    • Justification: Security awareness training helps prevent accidental introduction of vulnerabilities and improves the overall security posture.

  5. Vulnerability Scanning:

    • Action: Run regular vulnerability scans against the FortiSOAR instance and Connector to identify potential weaknesses.
    • Justification: Vulnerability scanning helps proactively identify and address security issues before they can be exploited.

  6. Incident Response Plan:

    • Action: Ensure that you have a well-defined incident response plan in place in case of a successful exploit. The plan should include procedures for:
      • Identifying and containing the incident
      • Investigating the extent of the damage
      • Recovering compromised systems and data
      • Reporting the incident to relevant authorities
    • Justification: A well-defined incident response plan ensures that you can respond quickly and effectively to a security breach.

Timeline:

  • Immediate (within 24 hours):
    • Review existing playbooks for suspicious code.
    • Restrict playbook creation/modification privileges.
    • Enable comprehensive logging.
    • Begin monitoring logs.
  • Short-term (within 1 week):
    • Apply the patch as soon as it is released by Fortinet.
    • Implement stricter input validation (if possible, without a patch).
    • Configure IDS/IPS signatures.
  • Ongoing:
    • Regular vulnerability scanning.
    • Security awareness training.
    • Review and update the incident response plan.

Communication:

  • Communicate the vulnerability and remediation steps to all relevant stakeholders (e.g., FortiSOAR administrators, security team, IT staff).

Note: This remediation/mitigation strategy is based on the information available in the provided vulnerability description. It is important to consult the official Fortinet advisory for the most up-to-date information and recommended actions. Adapt this strategy to your specific environment and risk tolerance.

Assigner

Date

  • Published Date: 2025-03-18 14:15:38
  • Updated Date: 2025-03-18 14:15:38

More Details

CVE-2024-21760