FortiPortal, a centralized management platform for Fortinet security devices, is a critical component in many organizations' security infrastructure. Recently, a concerning vulnerability, CVE-2025-24470, has been identified that could allow unauthorized access to sensitive information. This vulnerability allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to retrieve source code via crafted HTTP requests. Security professionals must understand the implications of this flaw and take immediate action to protect their FortiPortal deployments. This article provides a detailed analysis of CVE-2025-24470, its potential impact, and actionable steps to mitigate the risk. It aims to equip security professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to safeguard their FortiPortal installations against exploitation.
FortiPortal is a web-based centralized management and reporting platform for Fortinet security products. It provides a single pane of glass for managing various Fortinet devices such as FortiGate firewalls, FortiAnalyzer, FortiSandbox, and FortiClient endpoints. Its core capabilities include:
Centralized Management: Streamlines configuration, monitoring, and administration of multiple Fortinet devices.
Reporting and Analytics: Provides comprehensive reports and analytics on security events, network traffic, and user activity.
User Authentication and Access Control: Manages user accounts and access permissions for Fortinet devices.
Automation and Orchestration: Enables automated tasks and workflows for security incident response and policy enforcement.
Given its central role in managing security infrastructure, a vulnerability in FortiPortal can have significant consequences.
CVE ID: CVE-2025-24470
Description: Improper Resolution of Path Equivalence vulnerability allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to retrieve source code.
CVSS Score: 8.6 (High)
CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N
CVE-2025-24470 stems from an "Improper Resolution of Path Equivalence" (CWE-41) within FortiPortal. This flaw allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to craft HTTP requests that can retrieve source code from the FortiPortal application. The vulnerability exists because FortiPortal fails to properly sanitize or validate path-related inputs in HTTP requests. This could allow an attacker to manipulate the request to access files outside of the intended directories, leading to source code disclosure. Given the high CVSS score of 8.6, this vulnerability is considered a significant threat.
The exploitation of CVE-2025-24470 can have severe consequences for organizations using vulnerable versions of FortiPortal. The primary impact is unauthorized access to sensitive information through source code disclosure. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain access to:
Confidential Application Logic: The source code reveals the inner workings of FortiPortal, including algorithms, data structures, and security mechanisms.
Sensitive Data: Source code might contain hardcoded credentials, API keys, database connection strings, or other sensitive information.
Vulnerabilities and Weaknesses: Analysis of the source code can reveal other vulnerabilities, design flaws, or insecure coding practices that could be exploited in further attacks.
This information can then be used to launch more sophisticated attacks, compromise user accounts, bypass security controls, or steal sensitive data. The compromise of FortiPortal can also impact the security of the managed Fortinet devices, creating a cascading effect throughout the network. The high CVSS score of 8.6 reflects the significant potential impact of this vulnerability. To get more information about what you should know about CVSS, read this article.
The following FortiPortal versions are affected by CVE-2025-24470:
Product
|
Affected Versions
|
---|---|
FortiPortal
|
7.4.0 through 7.4.2
|
FortiPortal
|
7.2.0 through 7.2.6
|
FortiPortal
|
7.0.0 through 7.0.11
|
It is important to note that versions outside these ranges are not explicitly mentioned as vulnerable in the advisory. However, it is generally recommended to keep all software up to date with the latest security patches.
Several methods can be used to check if your FortiPortal instance is vulnerable to CVE-2025-24470:
1. Version Verification:
Log in to the FortiPortal web interface.
Navigate to the "System Information" or "About" section.
Check the installed version against the affected versions listed above.
2. Manual Testing (Use with Caution):
Craft a specific HTTP request designed to exploit the path equivalence vulnerability. This requires a deep understanding of web application security and potential attack vectors.
Send the request to the FortiPortal server and analyze the response.
If the response contains source code or other sensitive information, the system is likely vulnerable.
Warning: This method can be risky and could potentially disrupt the FortiPortal service. It should only be performed by experienced security professionals in a controlled environment.
3. Vulnerability Scanningse a vulnerability scanner with up-to-date vulnerability definitions to scan the FortiPortal server.
The scanner should identify CVE-2025-24470 if the FortiPortal instance is vulnerable.
4. Web Application Firewall (WAF) Logs:If you have a WAF deployed in front of FortiPortal, analyze the logs for suspicious HTTP requests that attempt to exploit path traversal or file inclusion vulnerabilities.
The primary remediation strategy for CVE-2025-24470 is to upgrade FortiPortal to a patched version.
1. Upgrade FortiPortal:
Upgrade to versions newer than 7.4.2, 7.2.6, or 7.0.11 as soon as patches become available.
Monitor Fortinet's security advisories for updates and patch releases.
Follow Fortinet's official upgrade documentation to ensure a smooth and secure upgrade process.
2. Workarounds (If Patching is Not Immediately Possible):
Implement Network Segmentation: Limit network access to FortiPortal instances. Restrict access to trusted IP addresses or networks only.
Use Web Application Firewalls (WAF): Deploy a WAF in front of FortiPortal to filter and monitor HTTP traffic. Configure the WAF to block requests that attempt to exploit path traversal or file inclusion vulnerabilities.
Monitor Logs: Regularly monitor FortiPortal logs for suspicious activities or unauthorized access attempts.
Apply the Principle of Least Privilege: Ensure that all accounts interacting with FortiPortal have only the necessary privileges. You can monitor essential files and directories in Linux for security.
3. If No Patch or Workaround is Available:
Monitor Official Channels: Continuously monitor Fortinet's official channels (security advisories, support portal) for any security updates or patches related to this vulnerability.
Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS): Deploy IDS/IPS solutions to detect and block exploitation attempts.
By implementing these measures, security professionals can significantly reduce the risk posed by CVE-2025-24470 and protect their FortiPortal installations from exploitation.
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Arun KL is a cybersecurity professional with 15+ years of experience in IT infrastructure, cloud security, vulnerability management, Penetration Testing, security operations, and incident response. He is adept at designing and implementing robust security solutions to safeguard systems and data. Arun holds multiple industry certifications including CCNA, CCNA Security, RHCE, CEH, and AWS Security.
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