FortiSwitch Critical Flaw: Remote Admin Password Change Exploit

Fortinet’s FortiSwitch devices are affected by a critical security vulnerability that allows attackers to remotely modify the administrator password, compromising the security of vulnerable systems.

You Should Know:

Exploit Details:

The vulnerability (CVE-XXXX-XXXX) enables unauthorized users to bypass authentication and reset the admin password via a crafted HTTP request. This flaw impacts FortiSwitch firmware versions X.Y.Z and below.

Verification & Mitigation:

1. Check Firmware Version:

ssh admin@fortiswitch_ip
get system status | grep "Version"

If the version is vulnerable, update immediately.

2. Patch Installation:

Download the latest firmware from Fortinet’s support portal and upload it via:

execute restore image ftp <filename> <ftp_server_ip>

3. Temporary Workaround:

Restrict management interface access using ACLs:

config system interface
edit "mgmt"
set allowaccess ping https ssh http
set trust-ip-list "192.168.1.0/24"
end

4. Exploit Simulation (For Testing):

Use `curl` to test if your device is vulnerable (replace <target_ip>):

curl -X POST "http://<target_ip>/api/v2/cmdb/system/admin" -d '{"password": "Hacked@123"}'

Note: Only perform this in a lab environment.

5. Log Analysis:

Monitor logs for unauthorized password changes:

grep "password changed" /var/log/messages

Hardening Steps:

Disable HTTP/HTTPS management if unused:

config system interface
edit "mgmt"
set allowaccess ping ssh
end

Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for admin accounts.

What Undercode Say:

This flaw underscores the importance of:

1. Network Segmentation: Isolate critical devices like switches.

Regular Updates: Prioritize patch management. Example Linux command to automate checks:
```
apt list --upgradable | grep fortiswitch
```
Logging: Centralize logs using `rsyslog` or SIEM tools. For Linux:
```
logger -p auth.alert "FortiSwitch password change attempted"
```

4. Backup Configs: Regularly export FortiSwitch configurations:

execute backup config ftp <filename> <ftp_server_ip>

5. Windows Equivalent: Use `netsh` to restrict management traffic:

netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Block FortiSwitch Exploit" dir=in action=block protocol=TCP localport=80,443 remoteip=any

Expected Output:

Patched firmware version.
No unauthorized password changes in logs.
Restricted management access.

Reference URL: it-connect.fr

References:

Reported By: Piveteau Pierre – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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