CVE-2021-36171Network attack vector

Account access via predictable reset passwords

Published Mar 1, 2022 · Updated Oct 25, 2024

Weak password generation in Fortinet FortiPortal before 6.0.6 allows remote attackers to predict newly reset passwords. The password-reset feature uses a cryptographically weak pseudorandom number generator to create new passwords, making some or all of each value predictable within a limited time window. No authentication is required, and a successful prediction permits access to the account whose password was reset.

CVSS severity8.1
High
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

Weak password generation in Fortinet FortiPortal before 6.0.6 allows remote attackers to predict newly reset passwords. The password-reset feature uses a cryptographically weak pseudorandom number generator to create new passwords, making some or all of each value predictable within a limited time window. No authentication is required, and a successful prediction permits access to the account whose password was reset.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-36171
Published
Mar 1, 2022
Updated
Oct 25, 2024
Vendor
Fortinet
Product
FortiPortal
Classifications
CWE-338, T1078
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 1, 2022CVE 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=FortiPortal before 6.0.6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Fortinet · FortiPortalversion=FortiPortal before 6.0.6

Published CVSS scores

8.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.1FortinetCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-338Use of Cryptographically Weak Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG)
T1078Valid Accounts

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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