# CVE-2023-44251: Path traversal in FortiWAN

> An authenticated attacker can read and delete arbitrary files on FortiWAN devices via crafted HTTP requests.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H/E:F/RL:X/RC:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Dec 2023
- **Updated:** 2 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jgpr-rr69-24ch

## What is CVE-2023-44251?

CVE-2023-44251 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Fortinet FortiWAN, published on 13 Dec 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED **A improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory ('path traversal') vulnerability [CWE-22] in Fortinet FortiWAN version 5.2.0 through 5.2.1 and version 5.1.1. through 5.1.2 may allow an authenticated attacker to read and delete arbitrary file of the system via crafted HTTP or HTTPs requests.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-44251?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Fortinet Fortiwan.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-44251?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-44251 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-44251 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-44251 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-2021-26112](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-26112/): Memory corruption in Fortinet FortiWAN (high 8.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-44251 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-44251 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Fortinet FortiWAN, published on 13 Dec 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-44251 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-2023-44251/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-44251/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-44251
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-44251
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-44251

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-44251/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.