Skip to main content

Fortinet FortiClient Windows CVE-2026-44278

| EUVDEUVD-2026-29730 LOW
Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key (CWE-321)
2026-05-12 fortinet GHSA-5f54-54jr-q897
2.3
CVSS 3.1 · NVD

Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY
2.3 LOW
AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
High
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
Low
Integrity
None
Availability
None

Lifecycle Timeline

3
CVSS changed
May 12, 2026 - 18:22 NVD
2.1 (LOW) 2.3 (LOW)
Analysis Generated
May 12, 2026 - 18:01 vuln.today
CVE Published
May 12, 2026 - 16:54 nvd
LOW 2.1

DescriptionCVE.org

A use of hard-coded cryptographic key vulnerability in Fortinet FortiClientWindows 7.4.0 through 7.4.2, FortiClientWindows 7.2 all versions may allow attacker to information disclosure via <insert attack vector here>

AnalysisAI

Fortinet FortiClient Windows versions 7.2 (all) and 7.4.0 through 7.4.2 contain a hard-coded cryptographic key vulnerability that allows high-privileged local attackers to disclose sensitive information. The vulnerability requires local access and administrator-level privileges, limiting its real-world exploitation scope to threats already present on compromised systems or malicious insiders. No public exploit code or active exploitation has been confirmed at the time of analysis.

Technical ContextAI

The vulnerability stems from the use of hard-coded cryptographic keys (CWE-321) within FortiClient Windows, a client-side endpoint security application. Hard-coded keys are embedded directly in application binaries or configuration, making them discoverable through reverse engineering or binary analysis. Unlike dynamically generated or user-supplied keys, hard-coded keys cannot be rotated per-deployment and expose all instances to identical cryptographic compromise. This weakness undermines the confidentiality guarantees of cryptographic operations, allowing attackers with local system access to decrypt sensitive data protected by the static key. The specific encryption scope (what data is protected by the compromised key) is not detailed in the CVE description.

RemediationAI

Upgrade FortiClient Windows to a patched version released after 7.4.2 or obtain the security update for version 7.2 via Fortinet's advisory FG-IR-26-129 at https://fortiguard.fortinet.com/psirt/FG-IR-26-129. For environments unable to patch immediately, restrict administrative access on endpoints running vulnerable FortiClient versions to trusted users only, as exploitation requires PR:H (administrator privileges). Monitor administrative access logs for suspicious key material extraction attempts. Note that restricting admin access may impact legitimate endpoint management workflows, so coordinate with endpoint administrators before implementation. Until patched, assume that any user or process with administrator-level access to the endpoint can potentially extract data encrypted by the hard-coded key.

CVE-2025-64446 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Nov 14

Fortinet FortiWeb contains a relative path traversal allowing unauthenticated attackers to execute administrative comman

CVE-2024-55591 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Jan 14

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

CVE-2025-58034 HIGH POC
7.2 Nov 18

Fortinet FortiWeb contains an authenticated OS command injection allowing privilege escalation to execute unauthorized c

CVE-2016-1909 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Jan 15

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

CVE-2016-6909 CRITICAL POC
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-2026-21643 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Feb 06

A product has a SQL injection vulnerability enabling unauthenticated database compromise through improperly neutralized

CVE-2026-35616 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Apr 04

Remote code execution in Fortinet FortiClientEMS versions 7.4.5 through 7.4.6 allows unauthenticated attackers to execut

CVE-2025-25256 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Aug 12

An improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command ('OS Command Injection') vulnerability [CWE-78] in

CVE-2026-24858 CRITICAL
9.8 Jan 27

Fortinet FortiAnalyzer and FortiManager contain a critical authentication bypass vulnerability (CVE-2026-24858, CVSS 9.8

CVE-2025-59718 CRITICAL
9.8 Dec 09

Authentication bypass in Fortinet FortiOS, FortiProxy, and FortiSwitchManager allows unauthenticated remote attackers to

CVE-2012-1461 MEDIUM
4.3 Mar 21

The Gzip file parser in AVG Anti-Virus 10.0.0.1190, Bitdefender 7.2, Command Antivirus 5.2.11.5, Emsisoft Anti-Malware 5

CVE-2012-1459 MEDIUM
4.3 Mar 21

The TAR file parser in AhnLab V3 Internet Security 2011.01.18.00, Avira AntiVir 7.11.1.163, Antiy Labs AVL SDK 2.0.3.7,

Share

CVE-2026-44278 vulnerability details – vuln.today

This site uses cookies essential for authentication and security. No tracking or analytics cookies are used. Privacy Policy