Vulnearbilitymanagement

Critical Flaw in FortiSwitch of Fortinet Allows Attackers to Change Admin Password

An unverified password change vulnerability [CWE-620] in FortiSwitch GUI discovered.

This may allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to modify admin passwords via a specially crafted request as per Fortinet advisory released.

Summary

OEMFortinet 
SeverityCRITICAL
CVSS Score9.8
CVEsCVE-2024-48887
Actively ExploitedYes
Exploited in WildYes
Advisory Version1.0

Overview

Fortinet’s FortiSwitch product line has revealed a significant vulnerability noted as CVE-2024-48887. This flaw allows unauthenticated remote attackers to change administrative passwords by sending specially crafted requests to the device’s password management endpoint. With a CVSS score of 9.8, the vulnerability is classified as Critical and is actively being exploited in the wild.

Vulnerability NameCVE IDProduct AffectedSeverityCVSS Score
A unverified password change vulnerability  CVE-2024-48887Fortinet   CRITICAL  9.8

Technical Summary

A critical vulnerability (CVE-2024-48887) has been identified in Fortinet FortiSwitch devices, affecting versions 6.4.0 through 7.6.0. This flaw resides in the web-based management interface and allows remote, unauthenticated attackers to change administrator passwords by sending a specially crafted HTTP request to the set_password endpoint.

CVE IDSystem AffectedVulnerability DetailsImpact
    CVE-2024-48887  FortiSwitch v7.6, 7.4, 7.2, 7.0, 6.4CVE-2024-48887 is an unauthenticated password change vulnerability in FortiSwitch web GUI.
It enables remote unauthenticated attackers to modify admin passwords through crafted requests to the set_password endpoint.
    Unverified Password Change

Remediation:

  • Apply Security Patches: Install the latest security update for your FortiSwitch version. Fortinet has fixed the issue in 6.4.15 and above,7.0.11 and above,7.2.9 and above,7.4.5 and above,7.6.1 and above versions.

General Recommendations

  • Update Devices Regularly always install the latest firmware and security patches from Fortinet to fix known vulnerabilities.
  • Limit access to the FortiSwitch web GUI to trusted IP addresses and disable HTTP/HTTPS access if it is not required.
  • Set strong and unique passwords and change them regularly to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Monitor unusual Activity for suspicious logins or configuration changes.

Conclusion:


The CVE-2024-48887 vulnerability poses a serious security risk to organizations using affected FortiSwitch devices. Its ease of exploitation and the lack of authentication required make it particularly dangerous.

Organizations must act immediately by applying the relevant security patches, limiting administrative access, and monitoring for unusual activity.

References:

Critical VMware Vulnerabilities Exploited in the Wild – Patch Immediately 

Broadcom released a security alert on Tuesday morning to warn VMware customers about three zero-days that have been exploited in the wild.

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High-Severity DoS Vulnerability in Cisco NX-OS Software

MPLS Encapsulated IPv6 Denial of Service Vulnerability

OEM CISCO 
Severity High 
CVSS score 7.4 
CVEs CVE-2025-20111 
Exploited in Wild No 
Patch/Remediation Available Yes 
Advisory Version 1.0 

Overview 

A high-severity vulnerability (CVE-2025-20111) in Cisco Nexus 3000 and 9000 Series Switches operating in standalone NX-OS mode could allow unauthenticated attackers to trigger a denial-of-service (DoS) condition by sending crafted ethernet frames, leading to unexpected device reloads. 

Vulnerability Name CVE ID Product Affected Severity 
 Denial of service vulnerability  CVE-2025-20111   Cisco Nexus   High 

Technical Summary 

The vulnerability originates from improper handling of specific Ethernet frames within the health monitoring diagnostics of Cisco Nexus switches.

An unauthenticated, adjacent attacker can exploit this flaw by sending a sustained rate of crafted Ethernet frames to a vulnerable device. Successful exploitation results in repeated device reloads, disrupting network operations and potentially impacting high-availability environments. 

CVE ID System Affected Vulnerability Details Impact 
 CVE-2025-20111  Nexus 3000 Series: 3100, 3200, 3400, and 3600 models Nexus 9000 Series: 9200, 9300, and 9400 switches running standalone NX-OS Improper handling of specific Ethernet frames in health monitoring diagnostics  Repeated device reboots, potential network downtime  

Remediation

  • Apply Software Updates: Cisco has released patched software versions to address the vulnerability. Network administrators should upgrade affected devices immediately. 
  • Use Cisco Software Checker: Organizations should verify their exposure using Cisco’s Software Checker tool to identify the earliest fixed release. 
  • Implement Workarounds: If immediate patching is not feasible, organizations can mitigate risks using Access Control Lists (ACLs) to filter anomalous Ethernet frames targeting the health monitoring subsystem. 

Conclusion: 

CVE-2025-20111 presents a significant risk to enterprise and data center networks relying on Cisco Nexus switches. While there is no known active exploitation, organizations should prioritize patching and mitigation strategies to prevent service disruptions. Proactive monitoring and adherence to Cisco’s security advisories will help ensure network resilience against potential exploitation. 

References: 

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