# CVE-2023-42788: Command injection in FortiAnalyzer

> A local attacker with low privileges can execute unauthorized code via crafted CLI arguments in FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer.

- **Severity:** High 7.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:X/RC:X`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 10 Oct 2023
- **Updated:** 16 Dec 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-373p-j926-5m9h

## What is CVE-2023-42788?

CVE-2023-42788 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Fortinet Fortianalyzer, published on 10 Oct 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An improper neutralization of special elements used in an os command ('OS Command Injection') vulnerability [CWE-78] in FortiManager & FortiAnalyzer version 7.4.0, version 7.2.0 through 7.2.3, version 7.0.0 through 7.0.8, version 6.4.0 through 6.4.12 and version 6.2.0 through 6.2.11 may allow a local attacker with low privileges to execute unauthorized code via specifically crafted arguments to a CLI command

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-42788?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Fortinet Fortianalyzer, Fortinet Fortimanager.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-42788?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-42788 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-42788 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-42788 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Fortinet Fortianalyzer

- [CVE-2026-24858](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24858/): Fortinet Multiple Products Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel (critical 9.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-25610](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-25610/): Memory corruption in FortiAnalyzer (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2021-32603](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32603/): Server-side request forgery in Fortinet FortiAnalyzer, FortiManager (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-12817](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-12817/): Cross-site scripting in Fortinet FortiAnalyzer (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2024-48886](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-48886/): Auth bypass in FortiOS (high 8.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-42788 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-42788 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Fortinet Fortianalyzer, published on 10 Oct 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-42788 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Fortinet Fortianalyzer. 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-2023-42788/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42788/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-42788
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-42788
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-42788

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42788/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.