CVE-2020-9286Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Appliance reboot via unchecked API authorization

Published Apr 7, 2020 · Updated Oct 25, 2024

Improper authorization in Fortinet FortiADC 5.3.3 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to reboot the appliance. The /api/platform/reboot handler accepts a valid token from a read-only user without enforcing the administrator permission required by the GUI. A valid low-privileged account and network access to the management API are required; the demonstrated consequence is reboot-induced service interruption.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.15%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper authorization in Fortinet FortiADC 5.3.3 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to reboot the appliance. The /api/platform/reboot handler accepts a valid token from a read-only user without enforcing the administrator permission required by the GUI. A valid low-privileged account and network access to the management API are required; the demonstrated consequence is reboot-induced service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-9286
Published
Apr 7, 2020
Updated
Oct 25, 2024
Vendor
Fortinet
Product
FortiADC
Classifications
T1529
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 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=FortiADC 5.3.3 and earlier.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Fortinet · FortiADCversion=FortiADC 5.3.3 and earlier.

Published CVSS scores

6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:N/A:C
6.5NIST NVDCVSS: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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1529System Shutdown/Reboot

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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