CVE-2024-52961
Published: 11 March 2025
Summary
CVE-2024-52961 is a high-severity OS Command Injection (CWE-78) vulnerability in Fortinet Fortisandbox. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 38.7% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Deeper analysis
CVE-2024-52961 is an improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS Command vulnerability (CWE-78) affecting multiple versions of Fortinet FortiSandbox, including version 5.0.0, 4.4.0 through 4.4.6, 4.2.1 through 4.2.7, 4.0.0 through 4.0.5, and all versions of 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0. This flaw allows an authenticated attacker with at least read-only permissions to execute unauthorized commands through crafted requests. The vulnerability carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating high severity due to its potential for complete system compromise.
An attacker requires valid credentials with read-only access to the FortiSandbox management interface, which can be exploited remotely over the network with low complexity and no user interaction. Successful exploitation enables arbitrary command execution on the underlying operating system, potentially granting full control over the sandbox appliance, including data exfiltration, persistence, or lateral movement within the environment.
Fortinet has published advisory FG-IR-24-306 at https://fortiguard.fortinet.com/psirt/FG-IR-24-306, which provides details on affected versions and recommended mitigations, including available patches. Security practitioners should consult this advisory for upgrade paths and workarounds.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2024-54238
Vulnerability details
An improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS Command vulnerability [CWE-78] vulnerability in Fortinet FortiSandbox 5.0.0, FortiSandbox 4.4.0 through 4.4.6, FortiSandbox 4.2.1 through 4.2.7, FortiSandbox 4.0.0 through 4.0.5, FortiSandbox 3.2 all versions, FortiSandbox 3.1 all versions, FortiSandbox 3.0…
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all versions allows an authenticated attacker with at least read-only permission to execute unauthorized commands via crafted requests.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
OS command injection (CWE-78) in public-facing FortiSandbox management interface directly enables arbitrary Unix shell command execution (T1059.004) and exploitation of public-facing applications (T1190) for initial access or post-auth execution.
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly requires validation of crafted requests to neutralize special elements and prevent OS command injection (CWE-78).
Mandates timely remediation of the specific flaw through patching, as provided by Fortinet for affected FortiSandbox versions.
Enforces access control policies to restrict read-only authenticated users from executing unauthorized OS commands.