CVE-2025-52970 Scanner

Fortinet FortiWeb is utilized by enterprises worldwide as a robust web application firewall. It is designed to safeguard web applications from known and unknown threats and provides comprehensive protection by detecting, preventing, and logging attacks. Used by many organizations for securing servers from malicious traffic, FortiWeb is a preferred choice for many due to its comprehensive security features. System administrators and security teams deploy FortiWeb to monitor web traffic and provide real-time threat protection. It also offers integration capabilities for enhanced security responses in dynamic enterprise environments. Additionally, FortiWeb offers detailed insights into web application usage and potential threat vectors.

The vulnerability allows unauthorized users to bypass authentication and gain admin privileges. Typically, this vulnerability arises from improper handling of parameters within the software. An attacker, equipped with certain non-public information, can exploit this by crafting specific requests. The vulnerability exists in several versions, thereby posing a significant risk to systems that haven't been updated. Exploitation of this vulnerability provides attackers potential full control over the affected system. Organizations utilizing affected versions of FortiWeb must be vigilant in recognizing this security gap.

In technical terms, the vulnerability lies within the improper handling of authorization headers in FortiWeb. The exploit involves crafted HTTP requests using specific authorization tokens to manipulate user rights. The use of SQL-like syntax in the headers allows privilege escalation. Crafted requests are sent to specific endpoints within FortiWeb, notably under the /api/fabric/device/status endpoint, indicating the point of weakness. The unauthorized manipulation of these headers results in the circumvention of standard security protocols. Attackers leveraging this can generate administrative outcomes by altering device configuration and access control.

The impact of exploiting this vulnerability is notably severe. Malicious actors could acquire administrative control, leading to a complete takeover of the device. Compromised FortiWeb systems may experience unauthorized configurations being deployed, potential data breaches, and disruption of normal operations. Compromised systems can act as a launching point for further attacks within a network. Moreover, the unauthorized access could lead to unauthorized monitoring and exfiltration of sensitive data. Organizations may also face compliance violations if data protection measures are breached due to exploitation.

REFERENCES

• https://github.com/imbas007/POC-CVE-2025-52970/blob/main/README.md
• https://github.com/34zY/CVE-2025-52970
• https://github.com/Hex00-0x4/FortiWeb-CVE-2025-52970-Authentication-Bypass