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CVE Record

CVE-2021-32598: An improper neutralization of CRLF sequences in HTTP headers ('HTTP Response Splitting') vulnerability In F...

An improper neutralization of CRLF sequences in HTTP headers ('HTTP Response Splitting') vulnerability In FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer GUI 7.0.0, 6.4.6 and below, 6.2.8 and below, 6.0.11 and below, 5.6.11 and below may allow an authenticated and remote attacker to perform an HTTP request splitting attack which gives attackers control of the remaining headers and body of the response.

MediumCVSS 4.3Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-32598 affects Fortinet FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer GUI versions listed in the advisory. An authenticated remote user could manipulate HTTP responses through CRLF handling, potentially changing remaining response headers or body content. The business impact is limited but relevant for management systems because it can affect integrity of GUI responses.

Executive priority

Treat this as a moderate-priority management-plane issue. It is not reported as actively exploited in the provided sources, and it requires authentication, but FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer often support critical security operations and should be kept on supported fixed versions.

Technical view

The issue is improper neutralization of CRLF sequences in HTTP headers, resulting in HTTP response splitting in FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer GUI. CVSS 3.1 is 4.3: network reachable, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, unchanged scope, low integrity impact only.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to FortiManager or FortiAnalyzer deployments running 7.0.0, 6.4.6 and below, 6.2.8 and below, 6.0.11 and below, or 5.6.11 and below. The attacker must be authenticated and able to reach the GUI remotely.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation is network-accessible and low complexity after authentication, but the reported impact is limited to response integrity rather than confidentiality or availability.

Researcher notes

Focus validation on version matching and authenticated GUI reachability. The source bundle provides affected version ranges and impact class, but not exploit details or fixed-version text. Avoid assuming broader Fortinet product impact beyond FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer.

Mitigation direction

  • Review Fortinet advisory FG-IR-21-063 for official remediation and fixed release guidance.
  • Upgrade affected FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer systems according to Fortinet guidance.
  • Restrict GUI access to trusted administrative networks or VPN paths.
  • Review authenticated GUI user access and remove unnecessary accounts.
  • Monitor management GUI and proxy logs for unusual response or session behavior.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer versions across all environments.
  • Confirm whether any listed affected version remains deployed.
  • Verify GUI exposure is limited to authorized administrative paths.
  • Check whether remediation aligns with Fortinet FG-IR-21-063.
  • Document any compensating controls for systems not yet upgraded.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2021-32598 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
4.3 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N/E:U/RL:U/RC:R

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
4.3CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N/E:U/RL:U/RC:R2.81.4Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

4.3Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-32598Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N/E:U/RL:U/RC:R

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
FortinetFortinet FortiAnalyzer, FortiManagerFortiAnalyzer 7.0.0, 6.4.6 and below, 6.2.8 and below, 6.0.11 and below, 5.6.11 and below; FortiManager 7.0.0, 6.4.6 and below, 6.2.8 and below, 6.0.11 and below, 5.6.11 and belowListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.