Fortios
CVE-2024-55591
CRITICAL
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A07:2025 - Authentication Failures
ASVS 5.0
V6 - Authentication Alternate path authentication
|
| Impact | Critical risk (CVSS 9.8, EPSS 94.2%). Gaining super-admin on a FortiGate device gives attackers the ability to modify firewall rules, create VPN accounts, access all configurations, and potentially intercept all traffic. Actively exploited in the wild. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker sends crafted websocket requests to the FortiGate management interface. The authentication bypass grants a super-admin session. The attacker creates new VPN accounts, modifies firewall policies to allow backdoor traffic, and exfiltrates the running configuration containing LDAP/RADIUS credentials. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Mar 28, 2026
FortiOS and FortiProxy contain an authentication bypass via the Node.js websocket module allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to gain super-admin privileges through crafted requests.
Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
A critical authentication bypass in FortiOS and FortiProxy allows unauthenticated remote attackers to gain super-admin privileges by exploiting the Node.js websocket module through specially crafted requests.
RemediationAI
Upgrade FortiOS/FortiProxy immediately. Restrict management interface access to trusted networks. Audit admin accounts for unauthorized additions. Check for modified firewall policies and VPN configurations.
Affects your stack
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Technical ContextAI · show details
The CWE-288 authentication bypass exploits the Node.js websocket module in FortiOS/FortiProxy's management interface. Crafted websocket requests allow an unauthenticated attacker to obtain a session with super-admin privileges, providing complete control over the firewall configuration.
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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:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
Lifecycle Timeline
4DescriptionNVD
An Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerability [CWE-288] affecting FortiOS version 7.0.0 through 7.0.16 and FortiProxy version 7.0.0 through 7.0.19 and 7.2.0 through 7.2.12 allows a remote attacker to gain super-admin privileges via crafted requests to Node.js websocket module.
Executive ViewAI
Organizations using FortiOS face critical risk from CVE-2024-55591 rated CVSS 9.8. Successful exploitation could critically impact the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems. This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild (KEV-listed) and requires immediate remediation. Immediate patching is required per CISA KEV mandate.
Apply vendor patch. If immediate patching is not feasible: (1) Implement network-level access controls to limit exposure; (2) Enable enhanced monitoring and alerting; (3) Apply principle of least privilege.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
CISA KEV
EPSS
GitHub
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
Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.
Affected Products (CPE)NVD
An authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel [CWE-288] in Fortinet FortiOS version 7.2.0 through 7.2.1 an
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
Use of a hard-coded cryptographic key to cipher sensitive data in FortiOS configuration backup file may allow an attacke
Exploit-DB