CVE-2024-55591 - An Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerability [CWE-288] affecting FortiOS version

CVE-2024-55591 + An Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerability [CWE-288] affecting FortiOS version + Critical + 2025-01-14

One-sentence business risk

Broken authentication or authorization can expose tenant data and administrator actions, which buyers treat as a release blocker.

Research notes

  • Root cause: An Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerability [CWE-288] affecting FortiOS version 7.0.0 through 7.0.16 and FortiProxy version 7.0.0 through 7.0.19 and 7.2.0 through 7.2.12 allows a remote attacker to gain super-admin privileges via.
  • Affected versions: through 7.
  • Fixed / safe versions: version 7.0.0 through 7.0.16 and FortiProxy version 7.0.0 through 7…
  • Public exploit / PoC signal: the consulted NVD/GHSA/vendor sources describe the trigger class; treat it as reproducible until patched.
  • CVSS: 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Exact vulnerable code pattern

if external_response.accepted: login(user)

Fixed / mitigated code pattern

verify response signature, nonce binding, audience, issuer, and session ownership before login

Dependency or runtime update:

npm ls node || true
npm install node@latest --save-exact
npm audit --omit=dev

Step-by-step integration guide

  1. Inventory node across source, lockfiles, SBOMs, container images, CI images, and deployment manifests.
  2. Upgrade to version 7.0.0 through 7.0.16 and FortiProxy version 7.0.0 through 7. or apply the exact vendor patch referenced below.
  3. Replace the vulnerable auth-bypass pattern with the fixed pattern and fail closed on malformed input.
  4. Add a regression test that exercises the advisory trigger and proves the request is rejected, bounded, or authorized.
  5. Deploy through canary, monitor security logs and resource metrics, then remove temporary edge blocks only after all runtimes are fixed.

Alternative mitigations

  • Disable the vulnerable feature path while the package/runtime update rolls out.
  • Add WAF or reverse-proxy rules for traversal tokens, prototype-polluting keys, oversized frames, shell metacharacters, or unauthenticated tool calls matching the trigger class.
  • Restrict internal egress, rotate exposed secrets, and revoke affected tokens/keys if the vulnerability can disclose config, logs, JWT secrets, proxy credentials, or PKI material.
  • For admin/API authorization issues, temporarily require elevated roles and explicit ownership checks at the gateway.

Detection signature

id: cve-2024-55591-an-authentication-bypass-using-an-alternate-path
source: "NVD"
dependency_or_product: "node"
affected: "through 7"
fixed: "version 7.0.0 through 7.0.16 and FortiProxy version 7.0.0 through 7."
signals:
  - "auth-bypass"
  - "../"
  - "__proto__"
  - "tools/call"
  - "wp_ajax_nopriv"
  - "pickle.loads"
  - "shell command construction"
action: "upgrade, add regression test, and verify deploy artifact"

Copy-paste skill

You are remediating CVE-2024-55591 (An Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerability [CWE-288] affecting FortiOS version) in this repository.

Find every affected dependency, runtime, image, service configuration, and reachable code path. Upgrade or patch to version 7.0.0 through 7.0.16 and FortiProxy version 7.0.0 through 7.. Replace the vulnerable auth-bypass pattern with a fail-closed implementation, add a regression test for the trigger shape, and update deployment/SBOM artifacts. If this repository does not control the affected runtime, create TRIAGE.md naming the owner, affected version, fixed version, and blocking decision.

Keywords, affected tech stack, and revenue tags

  • Keywords: CVE-2024-55591, auth-bypass, node, NVD.
  • Affected tech stack: javascript/npm.
  • Revenue tags: sellable_to_fintech, enterprise_blocker, zero_day_gold.

References