CVE-2022-35850 : What You Need to Know

A detailed overview of CVE-2022-35850 focusing on the vulnerability found in FortiAuthenticator versions 6.4.0 through 6.4.4, 6.3.0 through 6.3.3, 6.2.0, and 6.1.0 that could potentially lead to a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) attack.

Understanding CVE-2022-35850

In this section, we will dive into the specifics of the CVE-2022-35850 vulnerability discovered in FortiAuthenticator.

What is CVE-2022-35850?

The CVE-2022-35850 vulnerability involves an improper neutralization of script-related HTML tags in a web page in FortiAuthenticator versions 6.4.0 through 6.4.4, 6.3.0 through 6.3.3, and all versions of 6.2 and 6.1. This flaw could be exploited by a remote unauthenticated attacker to initiate a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) attack via the "reset-password" page.

The Impact of CVE-2022-35850

The impact of this vulnerability lies in the potential risk of a remote unauthenticated attacker executing unauthorized code or commands through a reflected XSS attack on the affected versions of FortiAuthenticator.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-35850

Let's explore the technical aspects of CVE-2022-35850 in FortiAuthenticator.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the improper handling of script-related HTML tags, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts and conduct XSS attacks through the "reset-password" page.

Affected Systems and Versions

FortiAuthenticator versions 6.4.0 through 6.4.4, 6.3.0 through 6.3.3, 6.2.0, and 6.1.0 are affected by CVE-2022-35850.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a remote unauthenticated attacker sending crafted requests to the affected pages, triggering a reflected XSS attack.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we will discuss how to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2022-35850 vulnerability in FortiAuthenticator.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to upgrade to FortiAuthenticator version 6.5.0 or above to address the CVE-2022-35850 vulnerability. Additionally, upgrading to version 6.4.7, 6.4.5, or 6.3.4 and above will also mitigate the risk.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement security best practices such as input validation, output encoding, and regular security audits to prevent XSS vulnerabilities in web applications.

Patching and Updates

Regularly apply security patches and updates released by Fortinet to ensure that your FortiAuthenticator installation is protected against known vulnerabilities.