SYSTEM privilege escalation via update named pipe
Published Nov 2, 2021 · Updated Oct 25, 2024
Improper authorization in Fortinet FortiClient Windows 7.0.1 and earlier and 6.4.2 and earlier allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges. The privileged update service accepts requests through its named pipe without adequately authorizing the caller; Fortinet has not disclosed the affected service or request fields. Exploitation requires local access but no existing application privilege, and successful use executes attacker-controlled actions as SYSTEM.
Summary
What happened
Improper authorization in Fortinet FortiClient Windows 7.0.1 and earlier and 6.4.2 and earlier allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges. The privileged update service accepts requests through its named pipe without adequately authorizing the caller; Fortinet has not disclosed the affected service or request fields. Exploitation requires local access but no existing application privilege, and successful use executes attacker-controlled actions as SYSTEM.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-36183
- Published
- Nov 2, 2021
- Updated
- Oct 25, 2024
- Vendor
- Fortinet
- Product
- FortiClient Windows
- Classifications
- CWE-285, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 2, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=FortiClientWindows 7.0.1, 7.0.0, 6.4.2, 6.4.1, 6.4.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
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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