CVE-2024-48891 is an OS command injection vulnerability classified under CWE-78 affecting Fortinet FortiSOAR on-premise versions 7.3.0 through 7.6.1. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements in OS commands, which can be exploited by an attacker who has already obtained a low-privileged, non-login shell on the affected system. Through crafted commands, the attacker can perform local privilege escalation, thereby gaining higher system privileges than initially granted. The vulnerability requires local access with low privileges, a high level of attack complexity, and no user interaction, making it less likely to be exploited remotely or by unskilled attackers. The impact includes potential full system compromise, affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the FortiSOAR platform, which is used for security orchestration, automation, and response. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk if combined with other vulnerabilities that allow initial shell access. The CVSS v3.1 score of 6.6 reflects a medium severity rating, considering the attack vector is local, requires privileges, and has high complexity. FortiSOAR is widely used in enterprise environments for security operations, making this vulnerability relevant for organizations relying on Fortinet's SOAR solutions.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized privilege escalation within FortiSOAR deployments, potentially allowing attackers to gain control over security orchestration workflows and sensitive incident response data. This could disrupt security operations, lead to data breaches, and undermine trust in automated security processes. Organizations in sectors such as finance, energy, telecommunications, and government, which often deploy FortiSOAR for incident management, are particularly at risk. The ability to escalate privileges locally means that if an attacker gains initial foothold through other means, they can leverage this vulnerability to deepen their access and cause more severe damage. This can result in operational downtime, data integrity loss, and exposure of confidential security information. Given the critical role of SOAR platforms in coordinating security responses, exploitation could also delay or prevent effective incident mitigation, amplifying the impact of other concurrent attacks.

European organizations should implement a layered defense approach to mitigate this vulnerability. First, ensure that FortiSOAR is updated to the latest patched versions once Fortinet releases fixes, as no patch links are currently available. Until patches are available, restrict local shell access strictly to trusted administrators and monitor for unusual shell activity. Employ strong access controls and network segmentation to limit exposure of FortiSOAR servers. Conduct regular audits of user privileges and remove unnecessary accounts with shell access. Implement host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) to detect suspicious command execution patterns indicative of privilege escalation attempts. Additionally, integrate FortiSOAR with centralized logging and SIEM solutions to monitor for anomalous behavior. Organizations should also review and harden the underlying operating system configurations to reduce the attack surface. Finally, develop and test incident response plans that include scenarios involving SOAR platform compromise to ensure rapid containment and recovery.