Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-36639

Fortinet Fortios 6.0.0 – 6.0.17

Published
13 December 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
View advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 7.2
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.011 61th percentile
Risk Priority 55 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-36639 is a high-severity Use of Externally-Controlled Format String (CWE-134) vulnerability in Fortinet Fortios. Its CVSS base score is 7.2 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked in the top 39% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

A use of externally-controlled format string in Fortinet FortiProxy versions 7.2.0 through 7.2.4, 7.0.0 through 7.0.10, FortiOS versions 7.4.0, 7.2.0 through 7.2.4, 7.0.0 through 7.0.11, 6.4.0 through 6.4.12, 6.2.0 through 6.2.15, 6.0.0 through 6.0.17, FortiPAM versions 1.0.0 through 1.0.3 allows…

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attacker to execute unauthorized code or commands via specially crafted API requests.

CWE(s)
CWE-134

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalation
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to elevate privileges.
attack.mitre.org →
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
attack.mitre.org →
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
attack.mitre.org →
T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access Credential Access
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to collect credentials.
attack.mitre.org →
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-29181Same product: Fortinet Fortios
CVE-2023-36640Same product: Fortinet Fortios
CVE-2024-23113Same product: Fortinet Fortios
CVE-2023-40721Same product: Fortinet Fortios
CVE-2023-45583Same product: Fortinet Fortios
CVE-2024-45324Same product: Fortinet Fortios
CVE-2025-57740Same product: Fortinet Fortios
CVE-2026-59837Same product: Fortinet Fortios
CVE-2023-45584Same product: Fortinet Fortios
CVE-2025-64157Same product: Fortinet Fortios

Affected Assets

fortinet
fortiproxy
7.0.0 — 7.0.10 · 7.2.0 — 7.2.4
fortinet
fortios
7.4.0 · 6.0.0 — 6.0.17 · 6.2.0 — 6.2.15 · 6.4.0 — 6.4.12
fortinet
fortipam
1.1.0 · 1.0.0 — 1.0.3

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly prevent external format strings via code review, static analysis, and safe APIs.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability identification can discover existing format-string flaws but does not prevent their introduction.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

A.8.29 Security testing in development and acceptance mostly match
finds

Security testing in development can detect format-string vulnerabilities before release.

A.8.25 Secure development life cycle partial match
prevents

Secure SDLC mandates input validation and safe API usage that can prevent externally-controlled format strings.

A.8.26 Application security requirements partial match
prevents

Application security requirements can specify safe formatting functions and ban uncontrolled format strings.

A.8.27 Secure system architecture and engineering principles partial match
prevents

Secure architecture principles discourage dangerous string-handling patterns that lead to format-string issues.

A.8.28 Secure coding partial match
prevents

Secure coding standards directly forbid the use of untrusted format strings and prescribe safe alternatives.

References