China-Backed Hackers Exploit Fortinet Flaw, Infecting 20,000 Systems Globally
Vulnerabilities mentionedAll →
| CVE | Vulnerability | CVSS | EPSS | Flags | Affected | Exposure | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2022-42475 | Unauthenticated Heap Overflow in Fortinet FortiOS/FortiProxy SSL-VPN (Critical RCE) CVE-2022-42475 is a critical (CVSS 9.8) heap-based buffer overflow in the SSL-VPN service of Fortinet FortiOS and FortiProxy. A remote, unauthenticated attacker can trigger it by sending specifically crafted requests to an exposed SSL-VPN interface, with no user interaction or credentials required. Successful exploitation yields arbitrary code or command execution on the appliance, giving attackers a foothold on the perimeter device from which they can pivot into internal networks. Any organization running the listed FortiOS (6.0 through 7.2) or FortiProxy (7.0/7.2) versions with SSL-VPN enabled is affected. Exploitation is confirmed in the wild: the flaw is in CISA KEV with known ransomware use, has near-certain exploitation probability (EPSS 99.5%), and has been used in targeted government attacks and a Chinese-nexus espionage campaign that compromised over 20,000 systems, with attackers also noted to retain access even after patching. Do: Upgrade FortiOS and FortiProxy to fixed releases per Fortinet advisory FG-IR-22-398 (any version beyond the listed affected ranges), and reboot the appliance after patching to clear lingering SSL-VPN sessions since attackers have been observed retaining access post-patch. Check for indicators of compromise such as unknown local accounts, unexpected processes, and anomalous historical logins, and rotate SSL-VPN credentials if compromise is suspected. If SSL-VPN is not required, disable it or restrict exposure to trusted sources until patched. | 9.8 | 99% | KEV ransomware PoC |
| masshundreds of thousands of internet-exposed FortiGate/FortiProxy SSL-VPN endpoints (well over 100,000; 20,000+ confirmed victims in a single campaign) |
Full article326 words · extracted from thehackernews.com · click to collapse
Ravie LakshmananJun 12, 2024
State-sponsored threat actors backed by China gained access to 20,000 Fortinet FortiGate systems worldwide by exploiting a known critical security flaw between 2022 and 2023, indicating that the operation had a broader impact than previously known.
"The state actor behind this campaign was already aware of this vulnerability in FortiGate systems at least two months before Fortinet disclosed the vulnerability," the Dutch National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said in a new bulletin. "During this so-called zero-day period, the actor alone infected 14,000 devices."
The campaign targeted dozens of Western governments, international organizations, and a large number of companies within the defense industry. The names of the entities were not disclosed.
The findings build on an earlier advisory from February 2024, which found that the attackers had breached a computer network used by the Dutch armed forces by exploiting CVE-2022-42475 (CVSS score: 9.8), which allows for remote code execution.
The intrusion paved the way for the deployment of a backdoor codenamed COATHANGER from an actor-controlled server that's designed to grant persistent remote access to the compromised appliances, and act as a launching point for more malware.
The NCSC said the adversary opted to install the malware long after obtaining initial access in an effort to retain their control over the devices, although it's not clear how many victims had their devices infected with the implant.
The latest development once again underscores the ongoing trend of cyber attacks targeting edge appliances to breach networks of interest.
"Due to the security challenges of edge devices, these devices are a popular target for malicious actors," the NCSC said. "Edge devices are located at the edge of the IT network and regularly have a direct connection to the internet. In addition, these devices are often not supported by Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions."
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