A newly disclosed vulnerability in FortiOS, tracked as an Incorrect Provision of Specified Functionality [CWE-684], can enable a local authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary system commands by crafting malicious CLI inputs.
The flaw affects multiple FortiOS versions—ranging from releases 6.4 through 7.6—and impacts an extensive array of hardware platforms. Fortinet recommends immediate upgrades to address this serious security gap.
Nature of the Flaw and Exploitation
The vulnerability arises from insufficient validation of CLI command parameters. An attacker with valid credentials can inject specially crafted arguments into the command-line interface, effectively escaping intended restrictions and executing system-level instructions.
Key aspects of the vulnerability include:
- Affects CLI command validation mechanisms in FortiOS.
- Requires local authenticated access to exploit.
- Enables execution of arbitrary system commands.
- Categorized under CWE-684 (Incorrect Provision of Specified Functionality).
Proof-of-concept exploit code demonstrates how an adversary could leverage this bypass to manipulate the underlying operating system, potentially installing rootkits, exfiltrating sensitive data, or disrupting network traffic flows.
FortiOS releases 7.6.0, 7.4.0 through 7.4.5, 7.2.0 through 7.2.10, 7.0.0 through 7.0.15, and all 6.4 versions are vulnerable. Affected hardware includes entry-level firewalls like the 100E/101E series, mid-range units such as the 1800F/1801F and 2600F/2601F, as well as high-end appliances including the 7000E/7000F platforms.
Potential Impact on Network Security
Successful exploitation grants attackers privilege escalation beyond normal administrative roles, undermining the integrity of perimeter defenses. Organizations could face unauthorized configuration changes, service disruptions, or persistent backdoors.
The potential security impacts include:
- Privilege escalation beyond intended administrative boundaries.
- Unauthorized system configuration modifications.
- Installation of persistent backdoors or malware.
- Disruption of network traffic and security policies.
- Potential data exfiltration through compromised systems.
Given the ubiquity of FortiOS in enterprise and service provider environments, this flaw elevates the risk profile for countless deployments worldwide.
Fortinet’s internal PSIRT team member Francois Ropert discovered and reported the issue. The company published the advisory on 2025-10-14, warning customers of the immediate threat and outlining remediation steps.
Recommended Mitigation and Next Steps
To remediate the vulnerability, Fortinet urges administrators to upgrade to patched releases: FortiOS 7.6.1 or later, 7.4.6 or later, 7.2.11 or later, and 7.0.16 or later. For users on the 6.4 branch, migrating to a fixed release is required.
Immediate action items for administrators:
- Upgrade to patched FortiOS versions as outlined in the advisory.
- Verify successful installation and test configurations post-upgrade.
- Limit CLI access to trusted personnel until patches are applied.
- Monitor system logs for unusual command execution patterns.
- Consider temporarily disabling unused administrative interfaces.
Administrators should verify successful installation and test configurations post-upgrade. Fortinet provides an upgrade tool to streamline the process at their documentation site.
Prompt action is critical. Until systems are updated, organizations should maintain current firmware to ensure robust protection against this and future vulnerabilities.
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