CVE-2021-44171

Privileged command execution via diagnostic CLI injection

Published Oct 10, 2022 · Updated Oct 25, 2024

OS command injection in Fortinet FortiOS allows remote authenticated users to execute privileged commands on a linked FortiSwitch. The switch-control diagnostic CLI passes attacker-controlled elements to an operating-system command without neutralizing command syntax. The flaw requires authenticated adjacent access and a linked switch; affected releases are 6.0.0 through 6.0.14, 6.2.0 through 6.2.10, 6.4.0 through 6.4.8, and 7.0.0 through 7.0.3.

CVSS severity9.0
Critical
EPSS probability1.54%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

OS command injection in Fortinet FortiOS allows remote authenticated users to execute privileged commands on a linked FortiSwitch. The switch-control diagnostic CLI passes attacker-controlled elements to an operating-system command without neutralizing command syntax. The flaw requires authenticated adjacent access and a linked switch; affected releases are 6.0.0 through 6.0.14, 6.2.0 through 6.2.10, 6.4.0 through 6.4.8, and 7.0.0 through 7.0.3.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-44171
Published
Oct 10, 2022
Updated
Oct 25, 2024
Vendor
Fortinet
Product
FortiOS
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059.008
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 10, 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=FortiOS 7.0.3, 7.0.2, 7.0.1, 7.0.0, 6.4.8, 6.4.7, 6.4.6, 6.4.5, 6.4.4, 6.4.3, 6.4.2, 6.4.1, 6.4.0, 6.2.10, 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, 6.0.14, 6.0.13, 6.0.12, 6.0.11, 6.0.10, 6.0.9, 6.0.8, 6.0.7, 6.0.6, 6.0.5, 6.0.4, 6.0.3, 6.0.2, 6.0.1, 6.0.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Fortinet · FortiOSversion=FortiOS 7.0.3, 7.0.2, 7.0.1, 7.0.0, 6.4.8, 6.4.7, 6.4.6, 6.4.5, 6.4.4, 6.4.3, 6.4.2, 6.4.1, 6.4.0, 6.2.10, 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, 6.0.14, 6.0.13, 6.0.12, 6.0.11, 6.0.10, 6.0.9, 6.0.8, 6.0.7, 6.0.6, 6.0.5, 6.0.4, 6.0.3, 6.0.2, 6.0.1, 6.0.0

Published CVSS scores

8.0NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.0Fortinet, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/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)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059.008Command and Scripting Interpreter: Network Device CLI

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo