Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessObtain valid web filter override token
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DeliveryCraft URL embedding CRLF sequences in override parameter
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ExploitDeliver malicious link to target user via phishing
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ExecutionUser clicks link triggering FortiOS/FortiProxy processing
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PersistUnsanitized CRLF sequences injected into HTTP response headers
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ImpactArbitrary headers written to victim browser or downstream cache
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization HTTP response header sanitization
|
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires two specific preconditions: first, the attacker must be in possession of a valid web filter override token issued by the FortiOS or FortiProxy instance - this token is tied to the web filter override feature, which must be enabled and in active use in the target deployment; second, user interaction is required, specifically the victim must click a crafted link delivered by the attacker. Exploitation is therefore limited to environments where the web filter override feature is configured and tokens have been provisioned. The CVSS AC:H rating reflects that obtaining a valid token is a non-trivial precondition beyond normal network access. Factors limiting exploitation include: the need for a legitimate or stolen override token (non-default privileged artifact), mandatory victim interaction (UI:R), and no direct confidentiality or availability impact even upon successful header injection. |
| Impact | The overall risk is low. The CVSS base score of 3.4 reflects the genuine constraints: AC:H captures the requirement for an attacker-held web filter override token (an out-of-band precondition), UI:R requires victim interaction, and the impact is limited to low integrity (I:L) with no confidentiality or availability impact. The S:C flag elevates the score slightly due to potential cross-component impact. No KEV listing confirms no mass exploitation. The temporal qualifiers E:P/RL:O/RC:C indicate an official Fortinet remediation exists and the vendor has confirmed the finding, but only partial exploit evidence is available - no weaponized exploit. EPSS data was not provided; absent that signal, the limited impact surface and high-complexity preconditions suggest this is a low-priority item for most environments. CVSS indicates network vector (AV:N) but meaningful exploitation also requires social engineering to achieve UI:R, making mass automated exploitation (automatable=No) unlikely. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker who has obtained a valid FortiOS web filter override token - whether through credential theft, insider access, or social engineering - crafts a URL that embeds CRLF sequences in a parameter processed by the web filter override endpoint. The attacker then delivers this URL to a target user via phishing or a malicious webpage. When the user clicks the link, the FortiOS/FortiProxy system incorporates the unsanitized input into an HTTP response header, injecting attacker-controlled headers that could poison the user's browser cache or facilitate a follow-on cross-site scripting attack. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Jul 14, 2026
HTTP Response Splitting in Fortinet FortiOS and FortiProxy enables an attacker who holds a valid web filter override token to inject arbitrary HTTP headers into server responses by tricking a user into clicking a crafted link. Affected versions span FortiOS 7.2 through 7.6.4 and FortiProxy 7.2 through 7.6.4. No active exploitation has been confirmed by CISA KEV, though the CVSS temporal vector includes E:P, indicating partial proof-of-concept evidence exists. Real-world impact is constrained by the requirement to possess a valid web filter override token and to achieve user interaction.
RemediationAI
Consult the Fortinet FortiGuard advisory FG-IR-26-152 at https://fortiguard.fortinet.com/psirt/FG-IR-26-152 for exact patched build versions; the CVSS temporal marker RL:O confirms an official fix has been released, but specific fix version numbers are not available in the provided input data and should not be assumed. As a compensating control where immediate patching is not feasible, administrators should audit and revoke web filter override tokens for users who do not strictly require them, reducing the pool of tokens an attacker could obtain or abuse. Additionally, user awareness training to avoid clicking unsolicited links from untrusted parties mitigates the UI:R requirement. Disabling the web filter override feature entirely eliminates the attack surface if the feature is not operationally required, though this will prevent legitimate override workflows. Restricting access to the FortiOS/FortiProxy management and web filtering interfaces to trusted networks also reduces exposure.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 3 packages in euvd
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Technical ContextAI · show details
HTTP Response Splitting (CWE-113) arises when user-controlled data containing CRLF sequences (\r\n) is incorporated into HTTP response headers without sanitization, allowing an attacker to terminate one response header and inject additional headers or even a fabricated response body. In this case, the vulnerable attack surface is the web filter override mechanism within FortiOS and FortiProxy - a feature that allows authorized users to bypass category-based web filtering using a token. CPE data confirms affected products are cpe:2.3:a:fortinet:fortios, cpe:2.3:a:fortinet:fortiproxy, and cpe:2.3:a:fortinet:fortipam. The S:C (Changed Scope) in the CVSS vector reflects that the injected headers may affect a component beyond the FortiOS/FortiProxy instance itself, such as the victim's browser cache or downstream proxy, which is characteristic of response splitting primitives enabling cache poisoning or cross-site scripting.
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
Token possession is a privilege prerequisite mapping to PR:L; once held, crafting the injection link is straightforward (AC:L), with S:C reflecting downstream browser or cache impact.
Primary rating from Vendor (fortinet).
CVSS VectorNVD
Lifecycle Timeline
3DescriptionNVD
An Improper Neutralization of CRLF Sequences in HTTP Headers ('HTTP Response Splitting') vulnerability [CWE-113] vulnerability in Fortinet FortiOS 7.6.0 through 7.6.4, FortiOS 7.4 all versions, FortiOS 7.2 all versions, FortiProxy 7.6.0 through 7.6.4, FortiProxy 7.4 all versions, FortiProxy 7.2 all versions may allow an attacker in possession of a valid web filter override token to inject arbitrary headers via tricking a user into clicking on a crafted link.
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Code injection occurs when an application accepts user input and passes it directly into a language interpreter or evaluator without proper sanitization.
An authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel [CWE-288] in Fortinet FortiOS version 7.2.0 through 7.2.1 an
FortiOS and FortiProxy contain an authentication bypass via the Node.js websocket module allowing unauthenticated remote
A out-of-bounds write in Fortinet FortiOS versions 7.4.0 through 7.4.2, 7.2.0 through 7.2.6, 7.0.0 through 7.0.13, 6.4.0
A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability [CWE-122] in FortiOS version 7.2.4 and below, version 7.0.11 and below, versi
FortiOS SSL-VPN contains an improper authentication vulnerability that allows users to bypass two-factor authentication
Fortinet FortiAnalyzer before 5.0.12 and 5.2.x before 5.2.5; FortiSwitch 3.3.x before 3.3.3; FortiCache 3.0.x before 3.0
Buffer overflow in the Cookie parser in Fortinet FortiOS 4.x before 4.1.11, 4.2.x before 4.2.13, and 4.3.x before 4.3.9
Remote code execution in Fortinet FortiOS (6.4 through 7.6.3) and FortiSwitchManager (7.0.x/7.2.x) lets an attacker run
Path traversal vulnerability in Fortinet FortiOS, FortiProxy, FortiPAM, and FortiSwitchManager allows authenticated admi
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the sslvpn login page in Fortinet FortiOS 5.2.x before 5.2.3 allows remote a
FortiOS and FortiProxy contain an authentication bypass allowing unauthenticated attackers with knowledge of upstream/do
An Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerability [CWE-200] vulnerability in Fortinet FortiOS
EUVD-2025-210465
GHSA-cm5j-986p-jqrj
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
Vulnrichment
VulDB
Exploit-DB