CVE-2018-13374 Fortinet FortiOS and FortiADC: privilege escalation
In plain words: Something running with limited rights can promote itself to full control. Turns a small foothold (like a malicious app) into administrator or system-level access.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Sep 29, 2022
What to do
- Install Fortinet's security update for FortiOS and FortiADC. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
- Never expose the device's admin page to the internet.
- After patching a device that was exposed, follow the vendor's compromise checks, end active sessions and change passwords.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: They face the internet and guard the whole network, so a flaw here can hand attackers a way in — and these devices usually run no antivirus, so break-ins go unnoticed.
The details
- Official name
- Fortinet FortiOS and FortiADC Improper Access Control Vulnerability
- Product
- Fortinet FortiOS and FortiADC
- CISA description
- Fortinet FortiOS and FortiADC contain an improper access control vulnerability that allows attackers to obtain the LDAP server login credentials configured in FortiGate by pointing a LDAP server connectivity test request to a rogue LDAP server.
- Type of flaw
- Privilege escalation (CWE-732)
- Confirmed exploited
- Sep 8, 2022 — known to be used in ransomware attacks
- US federal patch deadline
- Sep 29, 2022
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Answering about CVE-2018-13374 ·
Questions about CVE-2018-13374
Is CVE-2018-13374 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2018-13374 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Sep 8, 2022, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks, including by ransomware groups.
How do I fix CVE-2018-13374?
Install Fortinet's security update for FortiOS and FortiADC. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
Am I affected by CVE-2018-13374?
Only if you use Fortinet FortiOS and FortiADC. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.