CVE-2019-16152Public exploit

Process crashes via malformed nanomsg IPC requests

Published Feb 6, 2020 · Updated Oct 25, 2024

Improper input validation in Fortinet FortiClient Linux 6.2.1 and earlier allows local users to crash root-owned processes via IPC requests. The fctsched process accepts specially crafted nanomsg client messages without correctly validating them, causing FortiClient processes to terminate. Any low-privileged local account that can reach the IPC endpoint can interrupt endpoint-security services running as root.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.38%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in Fortinet FortiClient Linux 6.2.1 and earlier allows local users to crash root-owned processes via IPC requests. The fctsched process accepts specially crafted nanomsg client messages without correctly validating them, causing FortiClient processes to terminate. Any low-privileged local account that can reach the IPC endpoint can interrupt endpoint-security services running as root.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-16152
Published
Feb 6, 2020
Updated
Oct 25, 2024
Vendor
Fortinet
Product
FortiClient Linux
Classifications
CWE-20, T1489
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 6, 2020CVE 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=FortiClientLinux 6.2.1 and below

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Fortinet · FortiClient Linuxversion=FortiClientLinux 6.2.1 and below

Published CVSS scores

6.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:N/A:C
6.5NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1489Service Stop

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo