Detect CVE-2025-64446: Fortinet FortiWeb Path Traversal Exploitation in CrowdStrike LogScale
Detects exploitation attempts targeting CVE-2025-64446, a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-23) in Fortinet FortiWeb. This vulnerability allows attackers to traverse directory boundaries and access files outside the intended web root, potentially exposing sensitive configuration files, credentials, or system files. The vulnerability is listed in CISA KEV indicating active exploitation in the wild.
MITRE ATT&CK
LogScale Detection Query
#event_simpleName=NetworkReceiveAcceptIPv4 OR #event_simpleName=NetworkReceiveAcceptIPv6 OR #event_simpleName=HttpRequest
| LocalPort = 443 OR LocalPort = 80 OR LocalPort = 8080 OR LocalPort = 8443
| HttpUri = /(\.\.%2[Ff]|%2[Ee]%2[Ee]%2[Ff]|%2[Ee]%2[Ee]\/|\.\.\\|%252[Ee]%252[Ee]|\.\.%252[Ff]|\.\.\.\.\/)/
OR HttpUri = /(etc\/passwd|etc\/shadow|web\.config|\.\.\/\.\.\/|\.\.\\\.\.\\/)/i
| groupby([RemoteAddressIP4, RemoteAddressIP4, HttpUri, LocalAddressIP4], function=count(1, as=request_count))
| request_count >= 1
| sort(request_count, order=desc)CrowdStrike Falcon CQL detection for path traversal activity including HTTP requests with traversal sequences. Primarily useful for detecting traversal attempts from hosts running the Falcon sensor that communicate with or forward to FortiWeb.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Security testing tools running on monitored endpoints performing authorized scans
- URL encoding by legitimate browser or application clients creating apparent traversal patterns
- Automated deployment tools using path-based APIs that resemble traversal sequences
- Vulnerability scanner endpoints registered in the environment performing scheduled assessments
Other platforms for CVE-2025-64446
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 4 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1Basic Path Traversal Against FortiWeb-Protected Endpoint
Expected signal: FortiWeb access log entry with the traversal URL, source IP, HTTP method GET, and either a 403 block response (if WAF in block mode) or 200/redirect if in monitor mode. SIEM should receive a CommonSecurityLog or syslog event within 60 seconds.
- Test 2URL-Encoded Path Traversal (Double Encoding)
Expected signal: Multiple FortiWeb log entries with percent-encoded URL paths. SIEM events should show the encoded traversal sequences in RequestURL or Message fields. Attack log should show WAF signature matches for each encoded variant.
- Test 3Traversal Targeting FortiWeb Configuration or Certificate Files
Expected signal: FortiWeb access and attack logs showing four separate requests targeting sensitive paths. Response codes expected to be 403 if blocking mode is active. SIEM should receive all four events and score the requests with TargetsSensitiveFile=true, raising FinalScore to critical threshold.
- Test 4Automated Traversal Fuzzing Simulation
Expected signal: Burst of 8 FortiWeb log events from the same source IP within 10 seconds, each containing traversal patterns. SIEM correlation rules should group these by source IP and escalate based on repeat attempts.
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