CVE-2021-41016Network attack vector

Privileged shell command execution via unsanitized CLI characters

Published Feb 2, 2022 · Updated Oct 25, 2024

Command injection in Fortinet FortiExtender 7.0.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute privileged shell commands via CLI. The CLI passes special characters into shell command processing without neutralization, enabling attacker-controlled command execution. Exploitation requires authenticated CLI access; resulting commands run with privileged device permissions and can affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.05%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in Fortinet FortiExtender 7.0.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute privileged shell commands via CLI. The CLI passes special characters into shell command processing without neutralization, enabling attacker-controlled command execution. Exploitation requires authenticated CLI access; resulting commands run with privileged device permissions and can affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-41016
Published
Feb 2, 2022
Updated
Oct 25, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 2, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8Fortinet, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.0NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.4Fortinet, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:X/RC:C

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command (OS Command Injection)
T1059.004Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell

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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