CVE-2024-40588 is a vulnerability classified as multiple relative path traversal issues (CWE-23) present in Fortinet FortiCamera versions 1.0.3 through 2.1.0 and several other Fortinet products including FortiMail, FortiNDR, FortiRecorder, and FortiVoice across various versions. The flaw allows a privileged attacker—meaning one with high-level access to the device’s CLI—to craft specific requests that manipulate file path references to access arbitrary files on the underlying filesystem. This improper access control bypasses intended file access restrictions, potentially exposing sensitive configuration files, credentials, or other confidential data stored on the device. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.2 (medium), reflecting that the attack vector is local (AV:L), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), and high privileges (PR:H), with no user interaction (UI:N). The impact is primarily on confidentiality (C:H), with no impact on integrity or availability. The vulnerability is present in multiple Fortinet products, indicating a systemic issue in how CLI commands validate file paths. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported to date, but the presence of this vulnerability in security and network monitoring devices raises concerns about potential data leakage and reconnaissance by attackers who have already gained privileged access.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-40588 is the potential exposure of sensitive information stored on Fortinet devices used for security monitoring, email security, network detection, and voice communications. Confidentiality breaches could lead to leakage of credentials, configuration files, or other sensitive operational data, which could facilitate further attacks or espionage. Organizations in sectors such as government, critical infrastructure, finance, and telecommunications that rely on Fortinet products for security and monitoring are at particular risk. The requirement for privileged access limits the risk to insiders or attackers who have already compromised administrative credentials or gained local access. However, once exploited, the attacker can gather valuable intelligence about the network environment, potentially aiding lateral movement or targeted attacks. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially given the strategic importance of affected devices in security architectures.

1. Apply patches and updates from Fortinet as soon as they become available to address CVE-2024-40588 and related vulnerabilities. 2. Restrict CLI access strictly to trusted administrators and enforce strong authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication where possible. 3. Monitor and audit CLI access logs regularly to detect any unauthorized or suspicious activity. 4. Implement network segmentation to isolate Fortinet devices from less trusted network zones, minimizing the risk of local access by attackers. 5. Use role-based access controls (RBAC) to limit privileges granted to users, ensuring that only necessary personnel have high-level CLI access. 6. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on administrative interfaces of Fortinet products. 7. Educate administrators about the risks of privilege misuse and the importance of secure credential management. 8. Consider deploying additional endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect anomalous behavior on devices hosting Fortinet products.