CVE-2022-38381Network attack vector

WAF filter bypass via malformed HTTP requests

Published Nov 2, 2022 · Updated Oct 25, 2024

Improper request handling in Fortinet FortiADC 5.0.0 through 6.2.3 and 7.0.0 through 7.0.2 allows remote attackers to bypass WAF filters. The WAF request-processing path accepts malformed HTTP syntax without consistently applying its SQL injection and cross-site scripting filters; Fortinet has not published the responsible parser or validation routine. No authentication or user interaction is required, but the direct impact is limited to evasion of configured WAF protections rather than compromise of FortiADC itself.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.72%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper request handling in Fortinet FortiADC 5.0.0 through 6.2.3 and 7.0.0 through 7.0.2 allows remote attackers to bypass WAF filters. The WAF request-processing path accepts malformed HTTP syntax without consistently applying its SQL injection and cross-site scripting filters; Fortinet has not published the responsible parser or validation routine. No authentication or user interaction is required, but the direct impact is limited to evasion of configured WAF protections rather than compromise of FortiADC itself.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-38381
Published
Nov 2, 2022
Updated
Oct 25, 2024
Vendor
Fortinet
Product
FortiADC
Classifications
CWE-228
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 2, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 25, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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  1. Affected versionversion=FortiADC 7.0.2, 7.0.1, 7.0.0, 6.2.3, 6.2.2, 6.2.1, 6.2.0, 6.1.6, 6.1.5, 6.1.4, 6.1.3, 6.1.2, 6.1.1, 6.1.0, 6.0.4, 6.0.3, 6.0.2, 6.0.1, 6.0.0, 5.4.5, 5.4.4, 5.4.3, 5.4.2, 5.4.1, 5.4.0, 5.3.7, 5.3.6, 5.3.5, 5.3.4, 5.3.3, 5.3.2, 5.3.1, 5.3.0, 5.2.8, 5.2.7, 5.2.6, 5.2.5, 5.2.4, 5.2.3, 5.2.2, 5.2.1, 5.2.0, 5.1.7, 5.1.6, 5.1.5, 5.1.4, 5.1.3, 5.1.2, 5.1.1, 5.1.0, 5.0.4, 5.0.3, 5.0.2, 5.0.1, 5.0.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Fortinet · FortiADCversion=FortiADC 7.0.2, 7.0.1, 7.0.0, 6.2.3, 6.2.2, 6.2.1, 6.2.0, 6.1.6, 6.1.5, 6.1.4, 6.1.3, 6.1.2, 6.1.1, 6.1.0, 6.0.4, 6.0.3, 6.0.2, 6.0.1, 6.0.0, 5.4.5, 5.4.4, 5.4.3, 5.4.2, 5.4.1, 5.4.0, 5.3.7, 5.3.6, 5.3.5, 5.3.4, 5.3.3, 5.3.2, 5.3.1, 5.3.0, 5.2.8, 5.2.7, 5.2.6, 5.2.5, 5.2.4, 5.2.3, 5.2.2, 5.2.1, 5.2.0, 5.1.7, 5.1.6, 5.1.5, 5.1.4, 5.1.3, 5.1.2, 5.1.1, 5.1.0, 5.0.4, 5.0.3, 5.0.2, 5.0.1, 5.0.0

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.3FortinetCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
5.2FortinetCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N/E:F/RL:U/RC:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-228Improper Handling of Syntactically Invalid Structure

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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