CVE-2021-42754

Authenticated camera hijacking via malicious dylib

Published Nov 2, 2021 · Updated Oct 25, 2024

Improper code generation in FortiClient macOS 7.0.0 and earlier and 6.4.5 and earlier lets remote authenticated users hijack the macOS camera. The flaw loads a malicious dylib through an improperly controlled code-generation path, bypassing the normal camera permission check. An authenticated attacker with local execution context and user interaction can obtain camera video; the record does not report broader data access or service disruption.

CVSS severity5.0
Medium
EPSS probability0.43%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper code generation in FortiClient macOS 7.0.0 and earlier and 6.4.5 and earlier lets remote authenticated users hijack the macOS camera. The flaw loads a malicious dylib through an improperly controlled code-generation path, bypassing the normal camera permission check. An authenticated attacker with local execution context and user interaction can obtain camera video; the record does not report broader data access or service disruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-42754
Published
Nov 2, 2021
Updated
Oct 25, 2024
Vendor
Fortinet
Product
FortiClient macOS
Classifications
CWE-94, T1574.006
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 2, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=FortiClientMac 7.0.0, 6.4.5, 6.4.4, 6.4.3, 6.4.2, 6.4.1, 6.4.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Fortinet · FortiClient macOSversion=FortiClientMac 7.0.0, 6.4.5, 6.4.4, 6.4.3, 6.4.2, 6.4.1, 6.4.0

Published CVSS scores

3.2Fortinet PSIRTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:N
3.5NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:N
5.0NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

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-94Improper Control of Generation of Code
T1574.006Dynamic Linker 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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