Analysis Summary

A known critical vulnerability between 2022 and 2023 was exploited by state-sponsored threat actors backed by China, giving them access to 20,000 Fortinet FortiGate systems worldwide. This suggests that the operation had a wider effect than previously thought.

Researchers stated that at least two months before Fortinet made the vulnerability in FortiGate systems public, the state actor responsible for this effort was already aware of it. In just one "zero-day" period, 14,000 devices were infected by the actor alone. Numerous Western countries, international organizations, and a sizable number of defense industry businesses were the targets of the effort. The entities' names remained undisclosed.

The results expand upon a February 2024 report that discovered the attackers had compromised a Dutch military computer network by leveraging CVE-2022-42475 (CVSS score: 9.8), a vulnerability that permits remote code execution. Because of the infiltration, a backdoor dubbed COATHANGER was able to be installed from a server under the control of the actor. Its purpose is to allow continuous remote access to the compromised appliances and serve as a launchpad for other malware.

It is unclear how many victims' devices had the implant infected, but the researchers stated that the adversary chose to install the malware long after gaining initial access in an attempt to maintain control over the machines. The most recent finding highlights the continued pattern of cyberattacks that target edge appliances in an attempt to compromise networks of interest.

Edge devices provide security issues, which makes them an attractive target for threat actors. With a typical direct internet connection, edge devices are situated at the periphery of the IT network. Furthermore, many times Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) systems do not support these devices.

Impact

• Code Execution
• Unauthorized Access
• Buffer Overflow

Indicators of Compromise

CVE

• CVE-2022-42475

Affected Vendors

Remediation

• Refer to FortiGuard Advisory for patch, upgrade, or suggested workaround information.
• Organizations must test their assets for the vulnerability mentioned above and apply the available security patch or mitigation steps as soon as possible.
• Implement multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to login processes.
• Regularly monitor network activity for any unusual behavior, as this may indicate that a cyberattack is underway.
• Organizations must stay vigilant and follow best practices for cybersecurity to protect their systems and data from potential threats. This includes regularly updating software and implementing strong access controls and monitoring tools.
• Develop a comprehensive incident response plan to respond effectively in case of a security breach or data leakage.
• Maintain regular backups of critical data and systems to ensure data recovery in case of a security incident.
• Adhere to security best practices, including the principle of least privilege, and ensure that users and applications have only the necessary permissions.
• Establish a robust patch management process to ensure that security patches are evaluated, tested, and applied promptly.
• Conduct security audits and assessments to evaluate the overall security posture of your systems and networks.
• Implement network segmentation to contain and isolate potential threats to limit their impact on critical systems.