CVE-2021-43076 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

FortiADC by Fortinet is impacted by an improper privilege management vulnerability that may allow remote attackers to modify system files.

Understanding CVE-2021-43076

An improper privilege management vulnerability in FortiADC versions could be exploited by authenticated attackers to manipulate system files.

What is CVE-2021-43076?

This CVE identifies an improper privilege management vulnerability in various versions of FortiADC that could enable a remote authenticated attacker to modify system files through shell access.

The Impact of CVE-2021-43076

The vulnerability poses a medium severity risk with a CVSS base score of 6.2, allowing attackers to potentially manipulate system files.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-43076

The technical aspects of the vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

Type: Improper access control (CWE-269)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
Access Complexity: Low
Confidentiality Impact: Low
Integrity Impact: Low

Affected Systems and Versions

Below are the impacted FortiADC versions:

FortiADC 6.2.1 and below
FortiADC 6.1.5 and below
FortiADC 6.0.4 and below
FortiADC 5.4.5 and below
FortiADC 5.3.7 and below

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by a remote authenticated attacker with restricted user profile leveraging shell access to modify system files.

Mitigation and Prevention

To secure systems against CVE-2021-43076, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade FortiADC to a patched version
Monitor system files and logs for unauthorized changes
Restrict shell access to privileged users only

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch FortiADC software
Conduct security training for users on proper access control

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Fortinet to address the vulnerability.