CVE-2021-26113

Offline password recovery via predictable hash salt

Published Apr 6, 2022 · Updated Oct 22, 2024

Weak password hashing in Fortinet FortiWAN before 4.5.9 allows attackers with the password file to recover stored passwords offline. The password-storage mechanism applies a predictable salt to a one-way hash, reducing the work needed to test password guesses against copied hashes. Exploitation requires prior possession of the password file; Fortinet has not disclosed how that file is obtained or identified the affected routine or hash algorithm.

CVSS severity6.2
Medium
EPSS probability0.41%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Weak password hashing in Fortinet FortiWAN before 4.5.9 allows attackers with the password file to recover stored passwords offline. The password-storage mechanism applies a predictable salt to a one-way hash, reducing the work needed to test password guesses against copied hashes. Exploitation requires prior possession of the password file; Fortinet has not disclosed how that file is obtained or identified the affected routine or hash algorithm.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-26113
Published
Apr 6, 2022
Updated
Oct 22, 2024
Vendor
Fortinet
Product
FortiWAN
Classifications
CWE-760, T1110.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 6, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 22, 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=FortiWAN before 4.5.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Fortinet · FortiWANversion=FortiWAN before 4.5.9

Published CVSS scores

6.2Fortinet, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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
5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-760Use of a One-Way Hash with a Predictable Salt
T1110.002Password Cracking

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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