Fortios
CVE-2023-42786
MEDIUM
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A10:2025 - Mishandling of Exceptional Conditions
ASVS 5.0
V16 - Security Logging and Error Handling Null pointer safety, defensive checks
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Impact 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. EPSS exploitation probability: 0.66%. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A remote attacker could crash the application by dereferencing a null pointer by sending crafted requests to the affected application. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Mar 28, 2026
A null pointer dereference in FortiOS versions 7.4.0 through 7.4.1, 7.2.0 through 7.2.5, 7.0 all versions, 6.4 all versions , 6.2 all versions and 6.0 all versions allows attacker to trigger a denial. Rated medium severity (CVSS 6.5), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
RemediationAI
No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Check pointers before dereferencing. Use static analysis tools to detect null pointer paths.
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 NULL Pointer Dereference (CWE-476), which allows attackers to crash the application by dereferencing a null pointer. A null pointer dereference in FortiOS versions 7.4.0 through 7.4.1, 7.2.0 through 7.2.5, 7.0 all versions, 6.4 all versions , 6.2 all versions and 6.0 all versions allows attacker to trigger a denial of service via a crafted http request. Affected products include: Fortinet Fortios. Version information: through 7.4.1.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
DescriptionCVE.org
A null pointer dereference in FortiOS versions 7.4.0 through 7.4.1, 7.2.0 through 7.2.5, 7.0 all versions, 6.4 all versions , 6.2 all versions and 6.0 all versions allows attacker to trigger a denial of service via a crafted http request.
Executive ViewAI
Organizations using FortiOS should be aware of notable risk from CVE-2023-42786, a null pointer dereference vulnerability rated CVSS 6.5. Exploitation could compromise the security of affected deployments. Organizations should apply vendor updates when available and monitor for exploitation.
Apply vendor patch. If patching is delayed: enable ASLR/DEP, apply network segmentation.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
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.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
A null pointer dereference occurs when a program attempts to access memory through a pointer that has been set to NULL (address 0x0).
Denial of Service attacks render applications or systems unavailable by overwhelming resources or triggering failure conditions.
Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org
An authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel [CWE-288] in Fortinet FortiOS version 7.2.0 through 7.2.1 an
FortiOS and FortiProxy contain an authentication bypass via the Node.js websocket module allowing unauthenticated remote
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
A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability [CWE-122] in FortiOS version 7.2.4 and below, version 7.0.11 and below, versi
FortiOS SSL-VPN contains an improper authentication vulnerability that allows users to bypass two-factor authentication
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
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
Remote code execution in Fortinet FortiOS (6.4 through 7.6.3) and FortiSwitchManager (7.0.x/7.2.x) lets an attacker run
Path traversal vulnerability in Fortinet FortiOS, FortiProxy, FortiPAM, and FortiSwitchManager allows authenticated admi
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the sslvpn login page in Fortinet FortiOS 5.2.x before 5.2.3 allows remote a
FortiOS and FortiProxy contain an authentication bypass allowing unauthenticated attackers with knowledge of upstream/do
An Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerability [CWE-200] vulnerability in Fortinet FortiOS
GitHub PoC
Exploit-DB