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Fortios CVE-2019-6693

MEDIUM
Use of Hard-coded Credentials (CWE-798)
2019-11-21 psirt@fortinet.com
6.5
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A07:2025 - Authentication Failures
ASVS 5.0
V6 - Authentication Credential externalization
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Persistence, Credential Access

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

Impact

CVSS score of 6.5 (MEDIUM). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction not required.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could gain access using credentials embedded in source code by sending crafted requests to the affected application.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Why: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9).
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV) No patch listed yet 5.7% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

Use of a hard-coded cryptographic key to cipher sensitive data in FortiOS configuration backup file may allow an attacker with access to the backup file to decipher the sensitive data, via knowledge. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Remove hard-coded credentials, use environment variables or secrets management, rotate exposed credentials immediately.

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 Use of Hard-coded Credentials (CWE-798), which allows attackers to gain access using credentials embedded in source code. Use of a hard-coded cryptographic key to cipher sensitive data in FortiOS configuration backup file may allow an attacker with access to the backup file to decipher the sensitive data, via knowledge of the hard-coded key. The aforementioned sensitive data includes users' passwords (except the administrator's password), private keys' passphrases and High Availability password (when set). 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 6.5 MEDIUM
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

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

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Added to CISA KEV
Jul 14, 2026 - 04:22 CISA
CVE Published
Nov 21, 2019 - 16:15 nvd
MEDIUM 6.5

DescriptionNVD

Use of a hard-coded cryptographic key to cipher sensitive data in FortiOS configuration backup file may allow an attacker with access to the backup file to decipher the sensitive data, via knowledge of the hard-coded key. The aforementioned sensitive data includes users' passwords (except the administrator's password), private keys' passphrases and High Availability password (when set).

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
5.7%
Top 8% exploitable
Data Quality
4 sources
Confidence: Medium

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 Yes
Public POC No
EPSS 5.7%
Patch available No
Active threat Yes
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
Out-of-Cycle
Exploitation· derived
Active
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
High

Priority Score

88
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: +50
EPSS: +6
CVSS: +32
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:o:fortinet:fortios:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fortinet:fortios:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:fortinet:fortios:6.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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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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CVE-2016-6909 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Aug 24

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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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