CVE-2025-47857 is a vulnerability identified in Fortinet's FortiWeb product, specifically affecting CLI versions 7.6.0 through 7.6.3 and versions prior to 7.4.8. The vulnerability is classified as an OS command injection (CWE-78), which occurs due to improper neutralization of special elements in OS commands. This flaw allows a privileged attacker with access to the FortiWeb CLI to execute arbitrary code or commands by crafting malicious CLI commands. The vulnerability requires high privileges (PR:H) and local access (AV:L), does not require user interaction (UI:N), and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability (all rated high). The scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the exploit affects only the vulnerable component. The exploitability is functional (E:F), and the report confidence is confirmed (RC:C). Although no known exploits are currently observed in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the potential for complete system compromise via command execution. FortiWeb is a web application firewall (WAF) widely used to protect web applications from attacks, and a successful exploit could allow attackers to bypass protections, manipulate traffic, or disrupt services. The vulnerability is rated with a CVSS score of 6.5, indicating a medium severity level, primarily because it requires privileged local access, limiting the attack surface to insiders or attackers who have already gained elevated access.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-47857 can be substantial, especially for those relying on FortiWeb appliances to secure critical web applications and services. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution, allowing attackers to manipulate or disable security controls, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt web services. This could result in data breaches, service outages, and compliance violations under regulations such as GDPR. Organizations in sectors like finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure, which often deploy FortiWeb for web application protection, could face operational and reputational damage. The requirement for privileged local access somewhat limits remote exploitation risks; however, insider threats or attackers who have already compromised internal networks could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and move laterally. Given the strategic importance of web application security in Europe, the vulnerability could be a vector for sophisticated attacks targeting sensitive data and services.

To mitigate CVE-2025-47857, European organizations should prioritize the following actions: 1) Apply vendor-provided patches or updates as soon as they become available, ensuring FortiWeb versions are upgraded beyond the affected releases (post 7.6.3 and 7.4.8). 2) Restrict CLI access strictly to trusted administrators using strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) and enforce least privilege principles. 3) Monitor and audit CLI access logs for unusual or unauthorized command executions to detect potential exploitation attempts early. 4) Implement network segmentation to limit access to FortiWeb management interfaces, reducing exposure to internal threats. 5) Employ host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) on FortiWeb appliances to detect anomalous system calls or command executions. 6) Conduct regular security training for administrators to recognize and prevent misuse of privileged access. These targeted measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control hardening, monitoring, and prompt patching specific to the FortiWeb environment.