CVE-2021-44168Known exploitationPublic exploit

Root execution via unverified update package extraction

Published Jan 4, 2022 · Updated Oct 21, 2025

Download without integrity checks in Fortinet FortiOS before 7.0.3 allows local users to write arbitrary files via crafted update packages. The execute restore src-vis handler accepts attacker-built packages and extracts traversal entries without authenticating the package or confining output paths. Access to the authenticated administrative CLI and permission to run the restore command are required; a demonstrated package writes outside the update area and uses LD_PRELOAD to obtain a root shell.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.87%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Download without integrity checks in Fortinet FortiOS before 7.0.3 allows local users to write arbitrary files via crafted update packages. The execute restore src-vis handler accepts attacker-built packages and extracts traversal entries without authenticating the package or confining output paths. Access to the authenticated administrative CLI and permission to run the restore command are required; a demonstrated package writes outside the update area and uses LD_PRELOAD to obtain a root shell.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-44168
Published
Jan 4, 2022
Updated
Oct 21, 2025
Vendor
Fortinet
Product
FortiOS
Classifications
CWE-494, CAPEC-533, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 10, 2021Exploitation reportedCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities listing
  2. Jan 4, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  3. Oct 21, 2025Record 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=FortiOS before 7.0.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Fortinet · FortiOSversion=FortiOS before 7.0.3

Published CVSS scores

3.2FortinetCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N/E:P/RL:U/RC:C
4.6NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
3.3FortinetCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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 exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-494Download of Code Without Integrity Check
CAPEC-533Malicious Manual Software Update
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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