CVE-2023-7308 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Function) affecting the NSFOCUS SecGate3600 firewall. The vulnerability exists in the /cgi-bin/authUser/authManageSet.cgi endpoint, which handles POST requests intended to manage user authentication settings. Due to improper enforcement of authentication checks, an unauthenticated remote attacker can send crafted POST requests to this endpoint and retrieve sensitive information such as user identifiers and configuration details. This exposure compromises confidentiality and could facilitate further attacks like targeted intrusions or privilege escalation. The affected version range is unspecified, implying all versions of the SecGate3600 firewall may be vulnerable. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed in August 2025, with exploitation evidence first observed by the Shadowserver Foundation in June 2024. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates the attack requires no privileges, no user interaction, and can be performed remotely over the network with low complexity, resulting in a high impact on confidentiality. No patches or mitigations have been officially released by NSFOCUS at the time of disclosure, increasing the urgency for defensive measures. The vulnerability’s exploitation could lead to leakage of sensitive firewall configuration and user data, undermining network security and trust in perimeter defenses.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of sensitive firewall configuration and user data. Disclosure of such information can enable attackers to map network defenses, identify privileged accounts, and craft sophisticated attacks such as lateral movement or privilege escalation within the network. Critical infrastructure operators, government agencies, and enterprises relying on SecGate3600 firewalls for perimeter security could face increased exposure to espionage, data breaches, and disruption. The ease of exploitation without authentication or user interaction means attackers can remotely target vulnerable devices at scale. This could lead to cascading security failures, especially in sectors with stringent data protection requirements under GDPR and other regulations. Additionally, the lack of available patches at disclosure time increases the window of exposure, necessitating immediate compensating controls to reduce risk.

1. Immediately restrict network access to the /cgi-bin/authUser/authManageSet.cgi endpoint by implementing firewall rules or access control lists that limit access to trusted administrative IP addresses only. 2. Monitor firewall logs and network traffic for unusual POST requests targeting the vulnerable CGI endpoint to detect potential exploitation attempts. 3. Engage with NSFOCUS support to obtain any available patches or firmware updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once released. 4. If patching is delayed, consider deploying web application firewalls or reverse proxies to block unauthorized requests to the vulnerable endpoint. 5. Conduct thorough audits of firewall configurations and user accounts to identify any suspicious changes or unauthorized access that may have occurred. 6. Implement network segmentation to limit the exposure of critical firewall management interfaces to internal trusted networks only. 7. Educate security teams about this vulnerability and ensure incident response plans include steps for detecting and mitigating exploitation attempts related to this flaw.