CVE-2018-13379 Fortinet FortiOS: file path flaw
In plain words: The program can be tricked into reading or writing files outside the folder it should stay in. Leaks files such as passwords and settings, or overwrites important ones.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline May 3, 2022
What to do
- Install Fortinet's security update for FortiOS. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
- Never expose the device's admin page to the internet.
- After patching a device that was exposed, follow the vendor's compromise checks, end active sessions and change passwords.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: They face the internet and guard the whole network, so a flaw here can hand attackers a way in — and these devices usually run no antivirus, so break-ins go unnoticed.
The details
- Official name
- Fortinet FortiOS SSL VPN Path Traversal Vulnerability
- Product
- Fortinet FortiOS
- CISA description
- Fortinet FortiOS SSL VPN web portal contains a path traversal vulnerability that may allow an unauthenticated attacker to download FortiOS system files through specially crafted HTTP resource requests.
- Type of flaw
- File path flaw (CWE-22)
- Confirmed exploited
- Nov 3, 2021 — known to be used in ransomware attacks
- US federal patch deadline
- May 3, 2022
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Answering about CVE-2018-13379 ·
Questions about CVE-2018-13379
Is CVE-2018-13379 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2018-13379 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Nov 3, 2021, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks, including by ransomware groups.
How do I fix CVE-2018-13379?
Install Fortinet's security update for FortiOS. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
Am I affected by CVE-2018-13379?
Only if you use Fortinet FortiOS. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.