CVE-2019-16155Public exploit

Root file overwrite via BackupConfig IPC

Published Feb 7, 2020 · Updated Oct 25, 2024

Privilege escalation in FortiClient Linux 6.2.1 and earlier allows local users to overwrite root-owned system files via crafted IPC. The fctsched process accepts specially crafted BackupConfig requests and the GUI can write the system backup file with root privileges. A low-privilege local account is required, and the consequence is root-level integrity loss with possible service interruption; the flaw is fixed in later releases.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.44%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in FortiClient Linux 6.2.1 and earlier allows local users to overwrite root-owned system files via crafted IPC. The fctsched process accepts specially crafted BackupConfig requests and the GUI can write the system backup file with root privileges. A low-privilege local account is required, and the consequence is root-level integrity loss with possible service interruption; the flaw is fixed in later releases.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-16155
Published
Feb 7, 2020
Updated
Oct 25, 2024
Vendor
Fortinet
Product
FortiClient Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 7, 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

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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

6.6NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:C/A:C
7.1NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/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.

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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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

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

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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