CISA Warns of Critical Fortinet Flaw as Palo Alto and Cisco Issue Urgent Security Patches

A vulnerability in the REST API and web UI of Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC) could allow an authenticated, low-privileged, remote attacker to perform a command injection attack against an affected device. This vulnerability is due to improper user authorization and insufficient validation of command arguments. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by submitting crafted commands to an affected REST API endpoint or through the web UI. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the CLI of a Cisco NDFC-managed device with network-admin privileges. Note: This vulnerability does not affect Cisco NDFC when it is configured for storage area network (SAN) controller deployment.

CVE-2024-23113 is a use of externally-controlled format string (CWE-134) in multiple Fortinet products, allowing an unauthenticated remote attacker to execute unauthorized code or commands by sending specially crafted packets to an affected device. The flaw carries a critical CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8 (network vector, no privileges or user interaction required, high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability). It affects FortiOS 7.0.0 through 7.0.13, 7.2.0 through 7.2.6, and 7.4.0 through 7.4.2; FortiProxy 7.0.0 through 7.0.14, 7.2.0 through 7.2.8, and 7.4.0 through 7.4.2; FortiPAM 1.0.0 through 1.0.3, 1.1.0 through 1.1.2, and 1.2.0; and FortiSwitchManager 7.0.0 through 7.0.3 and 7.2.0 through 7.2.3. CISA added the vulnerability to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2024-10-09 and warns it is likely being exploited in the wild, though no public proof-of-concept is known. Scanning coverage reported in the trade press indicates roughly 87,000 or more internet-exposed Fortinet devices remained vulnerable and open to attack after disclosure.

Do: Upgrade affected FortiOS, FortiProxy, FortiPAM, and FortiSwitchManager deployments to a patched release per Fortinet's advisory, since the data does not specify fixed build numbers. Until patching is complete, restrict management interface access to trusted sources, minimize internet exposure of affected devices, and verify your version falls within the affected ranges above. Treat this as an actively exploited vulnerability per CISA's KEV listing (added 2024-10-09) and prioritize it accordingly.

CVE-2024-9463 is a critical (CVSS 4.0: 9.9) OS command injection flaw (CWE-78) in Palo Alto Networks Expedition, the vendor's on-premises migration and firewall-management tool. An unauthenticated, network-adjacent attacker can send crafted input to trigger arbitrary operating system command execution with root privileges, requiring no credentials or user interaction. A successful compromise exposes the sensitive data Expedition holds for managed PAN-OS firewalls, including usernames, cleartext passwords, device configurations, and device API keys, which can enable follow-on attacks against the firewalls themselves. Any organization running an Expedition deployment, typically as a management appliance that is sometimes reachable from the internet, is affected. Exploitation is confirmed in the wild: Palo Alto Networks confirmed active exploitation (reported alongside SQL injection flaw CVE-2024-9465), CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2024-11-14, and EPSS assigns a 98.5% probability of exploitation within 30 days.

Do: Upgrade Expedition to the vendor-fixed release per Palo Alto Networks' advisory, and remove or restrict internet exposure of the Expedition web interface; if patching is not immediately possible, CISA's required action is to apply vendor mitigations or discontinue use of the product. Because exploitation can disclose cleartext firewall usernames, passwords, and API keys, rotate those credentials and review firewall configurations and Expedition logs for signs of compromise, particularly given confirmed active exploitation alongside CVE-2024-9465.

CVE-2024-9464 is an OS command injection flaw (CWE-78) in Palo Alto Networks Expedition, the vendor's firewall migration and management tool, that lets an authenticated attacker inject and run arbitrary operating system commands with root privileges on the Expedition host. It is triggered over the network (AV:N) with only low privileges required, meaning any valid, authenticated Expedition session with crafted input, and it requires no user interaction or special conditions. Successful exploitation exposes the sensitive data Expedition stores during migrations, including usernames, cleartext passwords, device configurations, and API keys of managed PAN-OS firewalls. Any organization running Expedition is affected, typically those using the tool to migrate firewalls from other vendors to PAN-OS or to consolidate Panorama deployments. Palo Alto Networks and CISA have warned of active exploitation of Expedition vulnerabilities from this disclosure (CVE-2024-5910, CVE-2024-9463, CVE-2024-9465), related reporting indicates CISA has added the Expedition bugs to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, and a very high EPSS score (82.6%, 100th percentile) indicates this flaw is highly likely to be exploited within 30 days.

Do: Update Expedition to the latest software/content release available from Palo Alto Networks per its advisory (no fixed version is specified in the source data), and restrict the Expedition web interface to trusted management networks or VPN-only access. Because Expedition stores PAN-OS firewall credentials, configurations, and API keys — potentially in cleartext — rotate those credentials and API keys and review Expedition logs for unexpected authenticated activity.