Now-Patched Fortinet FortiWeb Flaw Exploited in Attacks to Create Admin Accounts
Source Reddit InfoSec News
Description
A recently patched vulnerability in Fortinet FortiWeb web application firewall products has been actively exploited to create unauthorized administrative accounts. This flaw allows attackers to escalate privileges by injecting admin-level credentials, potentially leading to full control over the affected devices. Although the vulnerability has been patched, exploitation attempts have been observed in the wild, highlighting the urgency for organizations to apply updates. The attack does not require user interaction but may require network access to the FortiWeb management interface. European organizations using FortiWeb appliances are at risk of unauthorized access, data compromise, and disruption of web application security controls. Immediate patching and monitoring for suspicious admin account creation are critical to mitigate this threat. Countries with significant Fortinet market presence and critical infrastructure relying on FortiWeb are particularly vulnerable. Given the ease of exploitation and high impact on confidentiality and integrity, this vulnerability is assessed as high severity. Defenders should prioritize deploying patches, auditing admin accounts, and restricting management interface access to trusted networks.