Fortinet's Lack of Secure Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
The recent exposure of CVE-2024-48887, a critical flaw in FortiSwitch devices, casts a harsh spotlight on Fortinet’s lack of SDLC maturity and secure coding discipline. Although discovered internally, the fact that it reached production reflects deep issues within Fortinet’s development pipeline.
This unauthenticated vulnerability allows password changes via simple HTTP requests, violating essential OWASP security guidelines. It highlights the absence of input validation, poor access controls, and an insecure-by-default mindset — core symptoms of a flawed security development lifecycle.
Security: Still an Afterthought at Fortinet?
Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that a UI developer — not a security specialist — discovered the flaw. This raises concerns about Fortinet's internal security prioritization. If developers aren't being guided by strong DevSecOps policies, Fortinet's security culture is in serious question.
The vulnerability was published in 2025, yet carries a 2024 CVE prefix. This delay signals potential suppression or slow action — a dangerous sign in cybersecurity, where transparency and swift response are vital.
Broken SDLC = Broken Trust
By failing to integrate continuous SAST, DAST, and security reviews, Fortinet risks more than just vulnerabilities — it risks customer trust. Their rushed product cycle and delayed patch timelines suggest a company more focused on feature velocity than cybersecurity resilience.
Key Questions Fortinet Must Answer:
- What SDLC improvements are being implemented to prevent future security flaws?
- Are security professionals involved from design to deployment?
- What proactive measures are in place to detect and remediate vulnerabilities before release?
- How will Fortinet rebuild trust and prove its commitment to security-first engineering?
As cyber threats rise and trust shrinks, Fortinet must prioritize what truly matters: secure products built on a strong, transparent, and mature SDLC.
Fortinet’s Response: “Secure by Design” Initiative
It’s worth noting that Fortinet stated on February 25, 2025, that they are committed to being Secure by Design. We acknowledge their continued investment in security and hope to see tangible results from these initiatives in future product releases.