CVE-2024-50567: Fortinet FortiWeb RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-50567 Overview

CVE-2024-50567 is an OS command injection vulnerability affecting Fortinet FortiWeb versions 7.4.0 through 7.6.0. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements in operating system commands [CWE-78]. An authenticated attacker with high privileges can execute unauthorized code or commands on the underlying system by supplying crafted input to affected components.

FortiWeb is Fortinet's web application firewall product deployed to protect web applications and APIs. Successful exploitation grants attackers command execution on the security appliance itself, compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of protected traffic and configurations.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary OS commands on FortiWeb appliances, undermining the web application firewall protecting downstream applications.

Affected Products

Fortinet FortiWeb 7.4.0
Fortinet FortiWeb 7.4.x (through 7.4 branch)
Fortinet FortiWeb 7.6.0

Discovery Timeline

2025-02-11 - CVE-2024-50567 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-50567

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is classified under CWE-78, Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command. FortiWeb accepts input that flows into an operating system command without sufficient sanitization of shell metacharacters. Attackers can append or inject arbitrary commands that execute in the context of the FortiWeb process.

Exploitation requires network access to the management interface and valid high-privilege credentials. Once authenticated, the attacker submits crafted input containing shell control characters. The affected code passes this input to a system shell, executing the injected commands with the privileges of the calling process.

Because FortiWeb operates as a web application firewall, code execution on the appliance can be leveraged to disable inspection rules, exfiltrate TLS keys, or pivot into protected networks. The EPSS score of 2.16% (80th percentile) reflects moderate predicted exploitation activity relative to other published CVEs.

Root Cause

The root cause is the concatenation of user-controlled input into shell command strings without escaping or parameterization. Special characters such as ;, |, &, $(), and backticks retain their shell semantics when passed to the underlying command interpreter.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based against the FortiWeb management plane. An attacker with high-privilege credentials submits a crafted request containing shell metacharacters to a vulnerable endpoint. The injected payload executes as an OS command on the appliance. No user interaction is required. Refer to the Fortinet Security Advisory FG-IR-24-438 for vendor technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-50567

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by FortiWeb daemons, particularly shell interpreters invoking system utilities
Administrative API or CLI requests containing shell metacharacters such as ;, |, &&, $(), or backticks
Outbound network connections from the FortiWeb appliance to non-Fortinet infrastructure
Unauthorized configuration changes or new administrative accounts on FortiWeb

Detection Strategies

Monitor FortiWeb audit logs for administrative sessions issuing anomalous commands or configuration modifications
Inspect HTTPS management traffic for parameter values containing shell control characters
Correlate administrator authentication events with subsequent process execution telemetry from the appliance

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward FortiWeb syslog and audit events to a centralized SIEM for retention and correlation
Alert on privileged account logins from unusual source IP addresses or outside change windows
Baseline normal management-plane API usage and flag deviations in command patterns

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-50567

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade FortiWeb to a fixed version as specified in Fortinet advisory FG-IR-24-438
Restrict management interface access to trusted administrative networks only
Rotate credentials for all FortiWeb administrative accounts and enforce multi-factor authentication
Review audit logs for signs of prior exploitation attempts

Patch Information

Fortinet has published remediation guidance in advisory FG-IR-24-438. Administrators should consult the Fortinet PSIRT advisory to identify the fixed release train and apply the vendor-recommended upgrade path for FortiWeb 7.4.x and 7.6.0 deployments.

Workarounds

Limit administrative access to the FortiWeb management interface via network ACLs and dedicated management VLANs
Enforce least-privilege for FortiWeb accounts, reducing the number of high-privilege administrators
Disable or restrict any unnecessary administrative APIs until the patch can be applied

bash

# Example: restrict FortiWeb management access to a trusted subnet
config system interface
  edit "port1"
    set allowaccess https ssh
    set trusthost1 10.10.0.0 255.255.255.0
  next
end