Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-41678

Memory Safety in Fortinet Fortios 7.0.0 … 7.0.5

Memory Safety
Published
13 December 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
View advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.011 62th percentile
Risk Priority 66 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-41678 is a high-severity Double Free (CWE-415) vulnerability in Fortinet Fortios. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203); ranked in the top 38% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

A double free in Fortinet FortiOS versions 7.0.0 through 7.0.5, FortiPAM version 1.0.0 through 1.0.3, 1.1.0 through 1.1.1 allows attacker to execute unauthorized code or commands via specifically crafted request.

CWE(s)
CWE-415

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
attack.mitre.org →
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 →
T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access Credential Access
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to collect credentials.
attack.mitre.org →
T1499 Endpoint Denial of Service Impact
Adversaries may perform Endpoint Denial of Service (DoS) attacks to degrade or block the availability of services to users.
attack.mitre.org →
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-45584Same product: Fortinet Fortios
CVE-2023-44247Same product: Fortinet Fortios
CVE-2023-36639Same product: Fortinet Fortios
CVE-2023-29181Same product: Fortinet Fortios
CVE-2023-36640Same product: Fortinet Fortios
CVE-2025-57740Same product: Fortinet Fortios
CVE-2026-59837Same product: Fortinet Fortios
CVE-2025-25248Same product: Fortinet Fortios
CVE-2024-23113Same product: Fortinet Fortios
CVE-2025-64157Same product: Fortinet Fortios

Affected Assets

fortinet
fortios
7.0.0, 7.0.1, 7.0.2, 7.0.3, 7.0.4
fortinet
fortipam
1.0.0, 1.0.1, 1.0.2, 1.0.3, 1.1.0

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

—

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

—

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 1 hardening rule · 1 OS baseline
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)

—

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 full match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly prevent double-free errors via static analysis, safe memory APIs, and testing.

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 double-free conditions before release.

A.8.25 Secure development life cycle partial match
prevents

Secure development life cycle includes memory-safety practices that can prevent double-free bugs.

A.8.26 Application security requirements partial match
prevents

Application security requirements can mandate memory-safety rules that reduce double-free risk.

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

Secure system architecture and engineering principles can prescribe safe memory-management patterns.

A.8.28 Secure coding partial match
prevents

Secure coding standards directly address proper use of free() and similar functions.

Hardening callouts derived

Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).

Oracle Linux 8 (1 rule)
  • V-248590 OL 8 must clear the page allocator to prevent use-after-free attacks. prevents CWE-415

References