# CVE-2021-24009: Command injection in Fortinet FortiWAN

> Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary OS commands on FortiWAN devices via crafted HTTP requests in the Web GUI.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:U/RC:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 6 Apr 2022
- **Updated:** 25 Oct 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-7xrh-w83g-7mfh

## What is CVE-2021-24009?

CVE-2021-24009 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Fortinet FortiWAN, published on 6 Apr 2022. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Multiple improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command vulnerabilities (CWE-78) in the Web GUI of FortiWAN before 4.5.9 may allow an authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system's shell via specifically crafted HTTP requests.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-24009?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Fortinet Fortiwan.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-24009?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-24009 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-24009 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-24009 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Fortinet FortiWAN

- [CVE-2021-26102](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-26102/): Path traversal in FortiWAN (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-26114](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-26114/): SQL injection in Fortinet FortiWAN (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-4965](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-4965/): Command injection in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-44252](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-44252/): Auth bypass in FortiWAN (high 8.6)
- [CVE-2023-44251](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-44251/): Path traversal in FortiWAN (high 8.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-24009 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-24009 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Fortinet FortiWAN, published on 6 Apr 2022. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-24009 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Fortinet FortiWAN. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24009/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24009/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-24009
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-24009
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-24009

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24009/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.