CVE-2021-32592

Privilege escalation via OpenSSL engine DLL hijacking

Published Dec 1, 2021 · Updated Oct 25, 2024

Unsafe DLL search in Fortinet FortiClient and FortiClient EMS 7.0.0, 6.4.6 and earlier allows local users to execute elevated code. The affected programs search for and load an OpenSSL engine library from a path where a low-privileged user can place a malicious DLL. Local low-privileged access is required; loading the planted library runs attacker-controlled code in the privileged process context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unsafe DLL search in Fortinet FortiClient and FortiClient EMS 7.0.0, 6.4.6 and earlier allows local users to execute elevated code. The affected programs search for and load an OpenSSL engine library from a path where a low-privileged user can place a malicious DLL. Local low-privileged access is required; loading the planted library runs attacker-controlled code in the privileged process context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-32592
Published
Dec 1, 2021
Updated
Oct 25, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 1, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.8Fortinet, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.9NIST NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/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.

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574.001DLL Search Order Hijacking

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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