Summary
CVE-2025-25257 is a serious bug in Fortinet FortiWeb that lets attackers run harmful SQL commands without logging in. By sending special web requests, they can take full control of the system—even as root—plant web shells, steal data, or fully compromise the device. Hackers are actively targeting this flaw, and working attack tools and examples are already public. Real-world systems have already been hit.
Urgent Actions Required
- Patch FortiWeb immediately to version 7.6.4, 7.4.8, 7.2.11, or 7.0.11.
- Disable HTTP/HTTPS admin interface if patching is delayed.
- Restrict access to /api/fabric/* endpoints from untrusted sources.
- Monitor logs for unusual SQL queries or requests with Bearer tokens.
- Scan for web shells or unknown files on FortiWeb appliances.
Which Systems Are Vulnerable to CVE-2025-25257?
Technical Overview
- Vulnerability Type: SQL Injection → Remote Code Execution (RCE) via Fabric Connector API (CWE-89)
- Affected Software/Versions:
- FortiWeb 7.6.0 – 7.6.3
- FortiWeb 7.4.0 – 7.4.7
- FortiWeb 7.2.0 – 7.2.10
- FortiWeb 7.0.0 – 7.0.10
- Attack Vector: Network (unauthenticated HTTP/HTTPS requests targeting Fabric Connector endpoints)
- CVSS Score: 9.6
- Exploitability Score:
- Attack Vector: Network
- Attack Complexity: Low
- Privileges Required: None
- User Interaction: None
- Patch Availability: Yes, available2
How Does the CVE-2025-25257 Exploit Work?
What Causes CVE-2025-25257?
Vulnerability Root Cause:
The vulnerability happens because FortiWeb doesn’t properly check input in its Fabric Connector feature. An attacker can send a specially crafted HTTP request with a fake Authorization header. This input is used directly in a database query without being cleaned up, which lets attackers run harmful SQL commands. In some cases, this can be used to take full control of the system by writing and executing malicious files.
How Can You Mitigate CVE-2025-25257?
If immediate patching is delayed or not possible:
- Disable the Fabric Connector module if it’s not needed.
- Restrict access to FortiWeb’s HTTP/HTTPS admin interface to internal or trusted IPs only.
- Update and deploy WAF signatures to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts.
- Block public access to vulnerable API endpoints like /api/fabric/device/status.
- Monitor FortiWeb logs for unusual SQL errors or unauthorized command execution messages.
- Use tools like sqlmap to test if your device is still vulnerable.
- Set up alerts for suspicious HTTP requests targeting FortiWeb APIs.
Which Assets and Systems Are at Risk?
Asset Types Affected:
- Fortinet FortiWeb Appliances – Specifically versions:
- 7.6.0 – 7.6.3
- 7.4.0 – 7.4.7
- 7.2.0 – 7.2.10
- 7.0.0 – 7.0.10
- Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) – FortiWeb instances acting as first-line perimeter security
- Fabric Connector Module – Integration point between FortiWeb and other Fortinet products (e.g., FortiGate, FortiSandbox)
Business-Critical Systems at Risk:
- Customer-Facing Web Apps – Behind FortiWeb instances for SQLi protection
- Enterprise Admin Interfaces – Including those managing firewall rules or access policies
- Integrated Security Infrastructure – Fortinet ecosystems relying on Fabric Connector for orchestration
- Data Repositories – Backend databases exposed via WAF misconfiguration or exploit
Exposure Level:
- Internet-Facing FortiWeb Appliances – Especially those with the Fabric Connector module enabled
- Internal Security Appliances – If reachable from compromised internal hosts or untrusted networks
- Unpatched Systems – Still running vulnerable firmware versions with no network restrictions
- Staging / Test Environments – Often mirror production and may expose the same vulnerable endpoints (e.g., /api/fabric/device/status)
Will Patching CVE-2025-25257 Cause Downtime?
Patch application impact: Low to Moderate.
To fix the issue, update FortiWeb to one of the following patched versions:
- 7.6.4
- 7.4.8
- 7.2.11
- 7.0.11
Most deployments can apply the patch with minimal downtime. Organizations using automated deployment pipelines or CI/CD should experience little to no disruption. However, test in staging environments first if you rely on Fabric Connector integrations or custom configurations.
Mitigation (if immediate patching is not possible):
To reduce risk from CVE-2025-25257 temporarily, you can turn off the FortiWeb admin interface, block access to risky endpoints like /api/fabric/device/status, use updated WAF rules to catch SQL injection attempts, and limit access to trusted IPs. But these are short-term fixes. Since real attacks and public exploits exist, the only reliable solution is to patch FortiWeb immediately.
How Can You Detect CVE-2025-25257 Exploitation?
Exploitation Signatures:
- HTTP requests with suspicious Authorization: Bearer tokens containing SQL-like syntax (e.g., ';, UNION, INTO OUTFILE).
- Unusual SQL error messages in logs, such as “database error” or “unauthorized command executed”.
- Network activity involving /api/fabric/device/status or similar Fabric Connector endpoints from unexpected or external sources.
MITRE ATT&CK Mapping:
- T11903 – Exploit Public-Facing Application: Attack leverages external HTTP requests to exploit the exposed Fabric Connector endpoint.
- T10684 – Exploitation for Privilege Escalation: Initial SQL injection leads to root-level code execution.
Indicators of Compromise (IOCs/IOAs):
- Requests to Fabric Connector endpoints (/api/fabric/device/status, /api/v*/fabric/*) with SQL payloads in the Authorization header.
- Unexpected files on the system (e.g., .pth, .php, .py) or strange Python script executions (e.g., via ml-draw.py).
- Log entries indicating SQL injection activity from unauthenticated sources.
Alerting Strategy:
- Priority: Critical
- Trigger alerts for:
- HTTP requests to FortiWeb Fabric API endpoints containing keywords such as UNION, INTO OUTFILE, or suspicious SQL fragments.
- SQL error logs or unauthorized command messages in FortiWeb logs.
- Detection of newly created .pth or web shell files in protected directories (potential marker of RCE).
Remediation & Response
Patch/Upgrade Instructions:
- Fortinet PSIRT Advisory for CVE-2025-25257:
PSIRT | FortiGuard Labs
Mitigation Steps if No Patch:
- Disable the Fabric Connector module to eliminate the vulnerable interface.
- Block public access to /api/fabric/* (e.g., via firewall or reverse proxy like NGINX/Apache).
- Deploy updated WAF or edge rules to detect and block SQLi patterns.
- Limit administrative access to trusted IP ranges only.
- Log and monitor any external requests to Fabric Connector endpoints for suspicious activity.
Remediation Timeline:
- Immediate (0–2 hrs): Disable Fabric Connector and block /api/fabric/* access.
- Within 8 hrs: Apply the official FortiWeb patch (see patch advisory).
- Within 24 hrs: Ensure no vulnerable FortiWeb versions remain in production, staging, or CI/CD pipelines.
Rollback Plan:
- If the patch causes issues, revert to the previous stable firmware and restore access restrictions and WAF rules.
- Document rollback steps including date/time, responsible engineer, and version details in your change-management logs.
Incident Response Considerations:
- Isolate affected appliances to stop further exploitation.
- Collect forensic logs from FortiWeb and reverse proxies—focus on Fabric API endpoint requests and SQL errors.
- Investigate signs of compromise, such as web shells, unexpected .pth or Python file creations, or unusual RCE-related entries.
- After patching, improve log analysis, insert validation rules for Fabric endpoints, and confirm that protections are effective.
Where Can I Find More Information on CVE-2025-25257?
CVSS Breakdown Table
| Metric | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 9.6 | Critical severity indicating high impact and exploitability |
| Attack Vector | Network | Exploitable remotely via HTTP/HTTPS without local access |
| Attack Complexity | Low | No special conditions needed; straightforward SQL injection |
| Privileges Required | None | No credentials or authentication required |
| User Interaction | None | No user involvement needed for the exploit |
| Scope | Unchanged | Exploitation impacts only FortiWeb; does not affect other system components |
| Confidentiality Impact | High | Can lead to full data disclosure via SQL or RCE |
| Integrity Impact | High | Allows unauthorized modifications—SQL commands or code injection |
| Availability Impact | High | Potential for service disruption or shutdown via malicious commands |
