CVE-2021-41031

SYSTEM escalation via FortiESNAC named-pipe path traversal

Published Jul 18, 2022 · Updated Oct 25, 2024

Relative path traversal in Fortinet FortiClient for Windows allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges through FortiESNAC. The privileged FortiESNAC service accepts a relative path through its named-pipe interface without confining the resolved path. A local unprivileged account must reach the pipe; Fortinet has not disclosed the request field or resulting privileged file operation.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.47%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Relative path traversal in Fortinet FortiClient for Windows allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges through FortiESNAC. The privileged FortiESNAC service accepts a relative path through its named-pipe interface without confining the resolved path. A local unprivileged account must reach the pipe; Fortinet has not disclosed the request field or resulting privileged file operation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-41031
Published
Jul 18, 2022
Updated
Oct 25, 2024
Vendor
Fortinet
Product
FortiClient Windows
Classifications
CWE-22, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 18, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=FortiClientWindows 7.0.2, 7.0.1, 7.0.0, 6.4.6, 6.4.5, 6.4.4, 6.4.3, 6.4.2, 6.4.1, 6.4.0, 6.2.9, 6.2.8, 6.2.7, 6.2.6, 6.2.5, 6.2.4, 6.2.3, 6.2.2, 6.2.1, 6.2.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Fortinet · FortiClient Windowsversion=FortiClientWindows 7.0.2, 7.0.1, 7.0.0, 6.4.6, 6.4.5, 6.4.4, 6.4.3, 6.4.2, 6.4.1, 6.4.0, 6.2.9, 6.2.8, 6.2.7, 6.2.6, 6.2.5, 6.2.4, 6.2.3, 6.2.2, 6.2.1, 6.2.0

Published CVSS scores

7.8FortinetCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:X/RL:X/RC:X

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-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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