CVE-2021-24005Public exploit

Sensitive-data decryption via hard-coded encryption keys

Published Jul 6, 2021 · Updated Oct 25, 2024

Use of hard-coded cryptographic keys in Fortinet FortiAuthenticator before 6.3.0 allows attackers with file access to decrypt sensitive data. The appliance encrypts configuration backups and exported debug logs with fixed keys embedded in its code, allowing the same keys to reverse their protection. An attacker must first obtain one of those files or CLI configuration access; decryption exposes stored secrets without altering the appliance.

CVSS severity4.0
Medium
EPSS probability0.56%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use of hard-coded cryptographic keys in Fortinet FortiAuthenticator before 6.3.0 allows attackers with file access to decrypt sensitive data. The appliance encrypts configuration backups and exported debug logs with fixed keys embedded in its code, allowing the same keys to reverse their protection. An attacker must first obtain one of those files or CLI configuration access; decryption exposes stored secrets without altering the appliance.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-24005
Published
Jul 6, 2021
Updated
Oct 25, 2024
Vendor
Fortinet
Product
FortiAuthenticator
Classifications
CWE-798, T1552.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 6, 2021CVE 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=FortiAuthenticator versions before 6.3.0.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Fortinet · FortiAuthenticatorversion=FortiAuthenticator versions before 6.3.0.

Published CVSS scores

5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
4.0Fortinet, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-798Use of Hard-coded Credentials
T1552.001Unsecured Credentials: Credentials In Files

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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