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Fortios CVE-2019-16151

MEDIUM
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) (CWE-79)
2025-03-21 psirt@fortinet.com
4.7
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Output encoding, context-aware escaping
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Initial Access, Execution

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 4.7 (MEDIUM). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required. EPSS exploitation probability: 0.10%.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).
No patch listed yet 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 28, 2026

An improper neutralization of input during web page generation vulnerability [CWE-79] in FortiOS 6.4.1 and below, 6.2.9 and below may allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to either redirect users. Rated medium severity (CVSS 4.7), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
v1 Mar 28, 2026 - 18:32 CVSS 4.7

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Sanitize all user input, use Content-Security-Policy headers, encode output contextually (HTML, JS, URL). Use frameworks with built-in XSS protection.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) (CWE-79), which allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. An improper neutralization of input during web page generation vulnerability [CWE-79] in FortiOS 6.4.1 and below, 6.2.9 and below may allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to either redirect users to malicious websites via a crafted "Host" header or to execute JavaScript code in the victim's browser context. This happens when the FortiGate has web filtering and category override enabled/configured. Affected products include: Fortinet Fortios.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 4.7 MEDIUM
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

DescriptionCVE.org

An improper neutralization of input during web page generation vulnerability [CWE-79] in FortiOS 6.4.1 and below, 6.2.9 and below may allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to either redirect users to malicious websites via a crafted "Host" header or to execute JavaScript code in the victim's browser context. This happens when the FortiGate has web filtering and category override enabled/configured.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2019-16151 presents moderate security risk, a cross-site scripting vulnerability rated CVSS 4.7. Attackers could inject scripts to steal sessions or perform actions as authenticated users. Organizations should apply vendor updates when available and monitor for exploitation.

Business Impact: Low
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch. If patching is delayed: implement CSP headers, enable HttpOnly cookies, deploy WAF XSS rules.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.1%
Top 71% exploitable
Data Quality
3 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity MEDIUM
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.1%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Defer
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
Low

Priority Score

24
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +24
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Cross-Site Scripting occurs when an application accepts untrusted data and sends it to a web browser without proper validation or encoding.

Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org

cpe:2.3:o:fortinet:fortios:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fortinet:fortios:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE-2022-40684 CRITICAL POC
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An authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel [CWE-288] in Fortinet FortiOS version 7.2.0 through 7.2.1 an

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FortiOS and FortiProxy contain an authentication bypass via the Node.js websocket module allowing unauthenticated remote

CVE-2024-21762 CRITICAL POC
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A out-of-bounds write in Fortinet FortiOS versions 7.4.0 through 7.4.2, 7.2.0 through 7.2.6, 7.0.0 through 7.0.13, 6.4.0

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CVE-2016-1909 CRITICAL POC
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Fortinet FortiAnalyzer before 5.0.12 and 5.2.x before 5.2.5; FortiSwitch 3.3.x before 3.3.3; FortiCache 3.0.x before 3.0

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9.8 Aug 24

Buffer overflow in the Cookie parser in Fortinet FortiOS 4.x before 4.1.11, 4.2.x before 4.2.13, and 4.3.x before 4.3.9

CVE-2025-25249 CRITICAL POC
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Remote code execution in Fortinet FortiOS (6.4 through 7.6.3) and FortiSwitchManager (7.0.x/7.2.x) lets an attacker run

CVE-2025-61624 MEDIUM POC
6.5 Apr 14

Path traversal vulnerability in Fortinet FortiOS, FortiProxy, FortiPAM, and FortiSwitchManager allows authenticated admi

CVE-2015-1880 MEDIUM POC
4.3 May 12

Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the sslvpn login page in Fortinet FortiOS 5.2.x before 5.2.3 allows remote a

CVE-2025-24472 HIGH
8.1 Feb 11

FortiOS and FortiProxy contain an authentication bypass allowing unauthenticated attackers with knowledge of upstream/do

CVE-2025-68686 MEDIUM POC
5.9 Feb 10

An Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerability [CWE-200] vulnerability in Fortinet FortiOS

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