CVEs / CVE-2021-44168

CVE-2021-44168: Fortinet FortiOS Arbitrary File Download

Known exploited in the CISA KEV catalog since 10 Dec 2021
high 7.8 CVSS 3.1 (NVD)
EPSS 0.9% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 59% of CVEs (30 Oct 2026)
Last changed at its sources 17 Jun 2026

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Summary

Fortinet FortiOS "execute restore src-vis" downloads code without integrity checking, allowing an attacker to arbitrarily download files.
CISA, Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

Description

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.
The CVE record, via NVD · published 4 Jan 2022 · NVD status: Analyzed

Affected and fixed versions

As stated by the CVE record (from the CNA)
Product	Affected	Fixed in
Fortinet Fortinet FortiOS	FortiOS before 7.0.3	—

Exploitation

In CISA KEV since	10 Dec 2021
Due date for US federal agencies	24 Dec 2021
Used in ransomware campaigns	Unknown
Required action	Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Severity

CVSS 3.1	7.8 high `CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H` Scored by NVD
Weakness	CWE-494

References

CVE-2021-44168 on NVD
CVE-2021-44168 in the CISA KEV catalog
https://fortiguard.com/psirt/FG-IR-21-201 Vendor Advisory
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-44168 US Government Resource

Sources

Exploitation status from the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. EPSS scores from FIRST. Descriptions, severity and references from the National Vulnerability Database. Open-source package versions from OSV (CC-BY 4.0). Text is shown as each source states it; Stackurity does not edit it. Check the vendor's advisory before acting.

This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD.