Fortinet FortiOS Arbitrary File Download
Fortinet · FortiOS
A download of code without integrity check flaw in the "execute restore src-vis" command of Fortinet FortiOS (versions before 7.0.3) lets the product fetch and process update content without verifying its integrity. A local attacker who is already authenticated on the device, with no user interaction needed, can use specially crafted update packages to download arbitrary files from the device.
A download of code without integrity check vulnerability in the "execute restore src-vis" command of FortiOS before 7.0.3 may allow a local authenticated attacker to download arbitrary files on the device via specially crafted update packages.
- Exploited
- Yes, in CISA KEV
- Reports
- 0
- Tactics
- 5/15
How an attack unfolds
Based on MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. mappings. Select a step to see the evidence.How attackers get in
What they do
Exploitation timelineDated milestones for a CVE: when it was disclosed, when exploit code became public, when exploitation was confirmed, and when threat reports named it.
First seen exploited 28 days before it was disclosed. Public exploit code (PoC-in-GitHub) appeared 13 months after disclosure.
- First seen exploitedVulnCheck KEV evidence28 days before
- Added to CISA KEVEU database agrees25 days before
- Disclosedday 0
- Public exploit codePoC-in-GitHub+13 mo
CISA KEV listing is when exploitation was confirmed, not necessarily the first attack.
MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. techniques
2 TechniqueOne specific attacker behaviour in MITRE ATT&CK, such as T1190 “Exploit Public-Facing Application”. IDs with a dot, like T1059.004, are sub-techniques., grouped by TacticThe attacker’s goal at a stage of an attack in MITRE ATT&CK, such as Initial Access or Persistence. Each technique belongs to one or more tactics. in kill-chain order 2Initial AccessTA0001
CVE-2021-44168 is an unverified update download vulnerability that can be exploited by adversaries with local access creating specifically crafted download packages.
Defense Impairment
Detection
0 rules for this CVE · 5 general rules for its techniquesRules for this CVE
0Sigma ruleAn open, vendor-neutral detection rule for log data. Security teams convert Sigma rules into searches for their own SIEM. that reference CVE-2021-44168 directly.CVE-specific rules are not available in this build. Search SigmaHQ ↗
General rules for this CVE’s techniques
These detect the technique in general, not this specific vulnerability.
Local AccountsT1078.0035 general rules
- Root Account Enable Via Dsenablerootmediumtest
- User Added To Admin Group Via Dsclmediumtest
- User Added To Admin Group Via DseditGroupmediumtest
- User Added To Admin Group Via Sysadminctlmediumtest
- Admin User Remote Logonlowtest
Sigma rules © SigmaHQ, Detection Rule License 1.1; linked, not reproduced.
What security researchers reported
Not named in any threat report yetAlso mentioned in 50 community threat pulses (AlienVault OTX)
Weaker evidencePulses are indicator collections that anyone can publish. A mention is not confirmation of exploitation.
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 29, 202628 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 28, 202627 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 27, 202626 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 24, 202623 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 23, 202622 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 22, 202621 Oct 2026
- 44 more on OTX