Over 133,000 Fortinet Devices Still Vulnerable One Month Later

Bugs in the Fort

In a buggy game of hide and seek, over 133,000 Fortinet devices are still "it," struggling to hide from a critical FortiOS flaw that’s been lurking for over a month. Shadowserver Foundation’s latest headcount finds these digital hideaways only slightly less prevalent than before, down from an initial 150,000.

Early February saw Fortinet patching this game-changing CVE-2024-21762 vulnerability, scoring a near-perfect 9.6 in the "oh-no" Olympics, highlighting a not-so-fun remote code execution (RCE) party crasher. This flaw became the uninvited guest at Fortinet’s recent cyber soirée, stealing the spotlight. Asia is leading the leaderboard with over 54,000 devices still open to party crashers, with North America and Europe trailing behind, showing this cyber game has a global playing field. The remaining digital hiders are scattered across South America, Africa, and Oceania.

With a plethora of exposed SSL VPNs, it seems the vulnerability bash is far from over, offering a wide-open dance floor for those looking to exploit. Fortinet’s initial zero-day exploit admission turned the bash into a full-blown gala, confirmed by CISA’s urgency to kick out uninvited guests, demanding federal agencies patch up or party down. Online proof-of-concept exploits are like party invitations flying across cyberspace, upping the ante for potential gate-crashers. The cybersecurity community is virtually chanting for swift patching to avoid any more awkward party fouls.

Adding to the administrative hangover, Fortinet recently announced another RCE bug, proving that when it comes to cybersecurity, the party never stops, and neither does the patching.

In this never-ending cyber fiesta, Fortinet devices are proving to be the life of the party for the wrong reasons. As these digital gatherings continue to attract unwanted attention, the message is clear: patch up your defenses, or prepare for an unforgettable cyber crasher event.

Could CodeLock Have Mitigated the Fortinet Vulnerability Risk?

CodeLock's advanced security features are designed to offer comprehensive protection against a wide range of cyber threats, including the exploitation of vulnerabilities like the one affecting Fortinet devices.

CodeLock's proactive threat detection and response mechanisms could significantly reduce the exposure and potential impact of such vulnerabilities. By employing continuous monitoring and advanced analytics, CodeLock can identify and neutralize threats before they exploit weaknesses in network defenses. Additionally, its ability to automate patch management processes ensures that vulnerabilities are addressed promptly, minimizing the window of opportunity for attackers.

Furthermore, CodeLock's emphasis on secure access management and endpoint protection ensures that even if attackers attempt to exploit such vulnerabilities, their movements within the network are restricted, reducing the risk of widespread damage. This layered security approach, combining proactive threat detection, automated patch management, and stringent access controls, positions CodeLock as a valuable asset in defending against the exploitation of vulnerabilities like those found in Fortinet devices.