CVE-2023-23784 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE-2023-23784 was published by Fortinet on February 16, 2023, after being reserved on January 18, 2023. It pertains to a relative path traversal vulnerability in Fortinet FortiWeb versions 7.0.0 through 7.0.2, 6.3.6 through 6.3.20, and all versions of FortiWeb 6.4, allowing attackers to gain information disclosure via specially crafted web requests.

Understanding CVE-2023-23784

This section will provide an in-depth understanding of the CVE-2023-23784 vulnerability, its impact, technical details, and how to mitigate and prevent it.

What is CVE-2023-23784?

CVE-2023-23784 is a relative path traversal vulnerability found in Fortinet FortiWeb versions 7.0.0 through 7.0.2, 6.3.6 through 6.3.20, and all versions of FortiWeb 6.4. This vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the system and gain access to sensitive information through carefully crafted web requests.

The Impact of CVE-2023-23784

The impact of CVE-2023-23784 is categorized as medium severity with a base score of 5.6 according to the CVSS v3.1 metrics. The vulnerability can lead to high confidentiality impact, allowing attackers to access sensitive information. However, the integrity impact and availability impact are rated as none in this scenario.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-23784

Understanding the technical aspects of the vulnerability including the description, affected systems and versions, and exploitation mechanism is crucial in mitigating its impact effectively.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Fortinet FortiWeb versions allows for a relative path traversal, enabling attackers to disclose information by manipulating specific web requests.

Affected Systems and Versions

Fortinet FortiWeb versions 7.0.0 through 7.0.2, 6.3.6 through 6.3.20, and all versions of FortiWeb 6.4 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting web requests in a way that allows them to traverse relative paths and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2023-23784, immediate steps, long-term security practices, and the importance of patching and updates should be considered.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to FortiWeb version 7.0.3 or above
Upgrade to FortiWeb version 6.3.21 or above

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing secure coding practices, regular security assessments, and staying updated on identified vulnerabilities can enhance long-term security resilience.

Patching and Updates

Regularly applying patches and software updates provided by Fortinet will help in mitigating vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-23784 and enhancing the overall security posture of the system.