CVE-2021-26113 : Security Advisory and Response

A detailed overview of CVE-2021-26113 impacting Fortinet FortiWAN before 4.5.9, highlighting the vulnerability, impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.

Understanding CVE-2021-26113

This section provides insights into the vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-26113 in Fortinet FortiWAN before version 4.5.9.

What is CVE-2021-26113?

The CVE-2021-26113 vulnerability involves a predictable salt vulnerability in FortiWAN, which could potentially allow an attacker with access to the password file to guess stored passwords.

The Impact of CVE-2021-26113

With a CVSS base score of 5.9, this vulnerability poses a medium risk to confidentiality, especially for systems running affected versions of Fortinet FortiWAN before 4.5.9.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-26113

Delving deeper into the technical aspects of CVE-2021-26113 to grasp the vulnerability's description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in FortiWAN before 4.5.9 arises from the use of a one-way hash with a predictable salt, leading to potential password guessing by an attacker who gains access to the password file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Fortinet FortiWAN versions before 4.5.9 are impacted by CVE-2021-26113, exposing systems to the risk of password file exploitation due to the predictable salt vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability requires prior access to the password file, enabling threat actors to potentially decipher stored passwords.

Mitigation and Prevention

Exploring essential steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2021-26113 and secure FortiWAN deployments against such vulnerabilities.

Immediate Steps to Take

System administrators should consider resetting passwords, limiting access to password files, and monitoring unusual password-guessing activities to mitigate immediate risks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust password policies, regular security audits, and employee training on password security can enhance long-term security measures.

Patching and Updates

Vendor-released patches and updates addressing the predictable salt vulnerability in Fortinet FortiWAN should be promptly applied to safeguard systems against potential password file exploitation.