Where
-Infinity
0

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Fortinet FortiClient. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The ZDI has assigned a CVSS rating of 7.8. The following CVEs are assigned: CVE-2026-24018.

First published (updated )
Advisory
ZDI-26-186

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Fortinet FortiClient. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability. The ZDI has assigned a CVSS rating of 7.8. The following CVEs are assigned: CVE-2026-24018.

First published (updated )
Severity
5.5
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:P/RL:W/RC:R

An active debug code vulnerability in Fortinet FortiClientWindows 7.4.0 through 7.4.3, FortiClientWindows 7.2.0 through 7.2.10, FortiClientWindows 7.0 all versions may allow a local attacker to run the application step by step and retrieve the saved VPN user password

Remedy

Upgrade to FortiClientWindows version 7.4.4 or above Upgrade to FortiClientWindows version 7.2.11 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
7.8
Buffer Overflow
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

A Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability [CWE-122] vulnerability in Fortinet FortiClientWindows 7.4.0 through 7.4.3, FortiClientWindows 7.2.0 through 7.2.8 may allow an authenticated local IPSec user to execute arbitrary code or commands via "fortips74.sys". The attacker would need to bypass the Windows heap integrity protections

First published (updated )
Severity
7.8
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:X/RC:R

An Exposed IOCTL with Insufficient Access Control vulnerability [CWE-782] vulnerability in Fortinet FortiClientWindows 7.4.0 through 7.4.3, FortiClientWindows 7.2.0 through 7.2.9 may allow an authenticated local user to execute unauthorized code via fortips driver. Success of the attack would require bypassing the Windows memory protections such as Heap integrity and HSP. In addition, it requires a valid and running VPN IPSec connection.

Remedy

Upgrade to FortiClientWindows version 7.4.4 or above Upgrade to FortiClientWindows version 7.2.10 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
7.8
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:X/RC:R

An Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature vulnerability [CWE-347] in FortiClient MacOS installer version 7.4.2 and below, version 7.2.9 and below, 7.0 all versions may allow a local user to escalate their privileges via FortiClient related executables.

Remedy

Upgrade to FortiClientMac version 7.4.4 or above Upgrade to FortiClientMac version 7.2.10 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
7.1
Code Injection
AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L/E:P/RL:X/RC:C

An Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') vulnerability [CWE-94] in FortiClientMac 7.4.0 through 7.4.3, 7.2.1 through 7.2.8 may allow an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on the victim's host via tricking the user into visiting a malicious website.

Remedy

Upgrade to FortiClientMac version 7.4.4 or above Upgrade to FortiClientMac version 7.2.9 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
7.3
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C

An Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability [CWE-427] in FortiClient Windows 7.4.0 through 7.4.3, 7.2.0 through 7.2.11, 7.0 all versions may allow a local low privileged user to perform a DLL hijacking attack via placing a malicious DLL to the FortiClient Online Installer installation folder.

Remedy

Upgrade to FortiClientWindows version 7.4.4 or above Upgrade to FortiClientWindows version 7.2.12 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
4.8
AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N/E:P/RL:O/RC:C

A exposure of sensitive system information to an unauthorized control sphere vulnerability in Fortinet FortiClientWindows 7.2.0 through 7.2.1, FortiClientWindows 7.0.13 through 7.0.14 may allow an unauthorized remote attacker to view application information via navigation to a hosted webpage, if Windows is configured to accept incoming connections to port 8053 (non-default setup)

Remedy

Upgrade to FortiClientWindows version 7.2.2 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
8.2
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:X/RC:X

An external control of file name or path vulnerability [CWE-73] in FortiClientMac version 7.2.3 and below, version 7.0.10 and below installer may allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code or commands via writing a malicious configuration file in /tmp before starting the installation process.

Remedy

Please upgrade to FortiClientMac version 7.2.4 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientMac version 7.0.11 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
8.4
AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:R

An improper authentication in Fortinet FortiClientMac 7.0.11 through 7.2.4 allows attacker to gain improper access to MacOS via empty password.

Remedy

Please upgrade to FortiClientMac version 7.4.1 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientMac version 7.2.5 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientMac version 7.0.13 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
3.3
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N/E:P/RL:U/RC:C

A use of hard-coded cryptographic key (CWE-321) vulnerability in FortiClient Windows may allow a low-privileged user to decrypt interprocess communication via monitoring named pipe.

1 / 2
Source: FortiGuard

Remedy

Please upgrade to FortiClientWindows version 7.4.1 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
3.2
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N/E:P/RL:U/RC:C

A use of hard-coded cryptographic key (CWE-321) vulnerability in FortiClient Windows may allow a low-privileged user to decrypt interprocess communication via monitoring named pipe.

First published (updated )
Advisory
FG-IR-24-216
Severity
5
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N

A Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information vulnerability [CWE-312] in FortiClient Windows and FortiClient Linux may permit a local authenticated user to retrieve VPN password via memory dump, due to JavaScript's garbage collector

1 / 2
Source: FortiGuard

Remedy

Please upgrade to FortiClientLinux version 7.4.3 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientLinux version 7.2.8 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientLinux version 7.0.14 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientWindows version 7.4.2 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientWindows version 7.2.7 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientWindows version 7.0.14 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
4.9
AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:F/RL:X/RC:X

A Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information vulnerability [CWE-312] in FortiClient Windows and FortiClient Linux may permit a local authenticated user to retrieve VPN password via memory dump, due to JavaScript's garbage collector

First published (updated )
Advisory
FG-IR-23-278
Severity
7.5
Race Condition
AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:X/RC:R

An improper verification of cryptographic signature vulnerability [CWE-347] in FortiClient MacOS version 7.4.0, version 7.2.4 and below, version 7.0.10 and below, version 6.4.10 and below may allow a local authenticated attacker to swap the installer with a malicious package via a race condition during the installation process.

Remedy

Please upgrade to FortiClientMac version 7.4.1 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientMac version 7.2.5 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
5.9
AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N/E:P/RL:U/RC:C

An improper certificate validation vulnerability [CWE-295] in FortiClientWindows 6.4 all versions, 7.0.0 through 7.0.7, FortiClientMac 6.4 all versions, 7.0 all versions, 7.2.0 through 7.2.4, FortiClientLinux 6.4 all versions, 7.0 all versions, 7.2.0 through 7.2.4, FortiClientAndroid 6.4 all versions, 7.0 all versions, 7.2.0 and FortiClientiOS 5.6 all versions, 6.0.0 through 6.0.1, 7.0.0 through 7.0.6 SAML SSO feature may allow an unauthenticated attacker to man-in-the-middle the communication between the FortiClient and  both the service provider and the identity provider.

Remedy

Please upgrade to FortiClientAndroid version 7.2.1 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientiOS version 7.0.7 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientMac version 7.4.0 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientMac version 7.2.5 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientLinux version 7.4.0 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientLinux version 7.2.5 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientWindows version 7.2.0 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientWindows version 7.0.8 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
8.1
AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N/E:P/RL:U/RC:C

AAn improper certificate validation vulnerability [CWE-295] in FortiClientWindows 7.2.0 through 7.2.2, 7.0.0 through 7.0.11, FortiClientLinux 7.2.0, 7.0.0 through 7.0.11 and FortiClientMac 7.0.0 through 7.0.11, 7.2.0 through 7.2.4 may allow a remote and unauthenticated attacker to perform a Man-in-the-Middle attack on the communication channel between the FortiGate and the FortiClient during the ZTNA tunnel creation

Remedy

Please upgrade to FortiClientMac version 7.2.5 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientMac version 7.0.12 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientEMS version 7.2.0 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientLinux version 7.2.1 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientLinux version 7.0.12 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientWindows version 7.2.3 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientWindows version 7.0.12 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
6
Path Traversal
AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H/E:H/RL:U/RC:C

A improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory ('path traversal') in Fortinet FortiClientEMS versions 7.2.0 through 7.2.4, 7.0.0 through 7.0.13, 6.4.0 through 6.4.9, 6.2.0 through 6.2.9, 6.0.0 through 6.0.8, 1.2.1 through 1.2.5 allows attacker to perform a denial of service, read or write a limited number of files via specially crafted HTTP requests

Remedy

Please upgrade to FortiClientEMS version 7.4.0 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientEMS version 7.2.5 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
8.2
EPSS
0.04%
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:X/RC:X

An external control of file name or path vulnerability [CWE-73] in FortiClientMac version 7.2.3 and below, version 7.0.10 and below installer may allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code or commands via writing a malicious configuration file in /tmp before starting the installation process.

Remedy

Please upgrade to FortiClientMac version 7.2.4 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientMac version 7.0.11 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
9.6
Code Injection
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:X/RC:X

An improper control of generation of code ('code injection') in Fortinet FortiClientLinux version 7.2.0, 7.0.6 through 7.0.10 and 7.0.3 through 7.0.4 allows attacker to execute unauthorized code or commands via tricking a FortiClientLinux user into visiting a malicious website

1 / 2
Source: MITRE

Remedy

Please upgrade to FortiClientLinux version 7.2.1 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientLinux version 7.0.11 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
9.6
Buffer Overflow, XSS, SQL Injection, Input Validation, Code Injection
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:U/RC:R

A improper neutralization of formula elements in a csv file in Fortinet FortiClientEMS version 7.2.0 through 7.2.2, 7.0.0 through 7.0.10, 6.4.0 through 6.4.9, 6.2.0 through 6.2.9, 6.0.0 through 6.0.8 allows attacker to execute unauthorized code or commands via specially crafted packets.

Remedy

Please upgrade to FortiClientEMS version 7.2.3 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientEMS version 7.0.11 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
3.3
Infoleak
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

An exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor vulnerability [CWE-200] in FortiClient for Windows 7.2.0, 7.0 all versions, 6.4 all versions, 6.2 all versions, Linux 7.2.0, 7.0 all versions, 6.4 all versions, 6.2 all versions and Mac 7.2.0 through 7.2.1, 7.0 all versions, 6.4 all versions, 6.2 all versions, may allow a local authenticated attacker with no Administrative privileges to retrieve the list of files or folders excluded from malware scanning.

Remedy

Please upgrade to FortiClientMac version 7.2.2 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientWindows version 7.2.1 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientLinux version 7.2.1 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
5.3
Infoleak
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

An exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor vulnerability [CWE-200] in FortiClientEMS versions 7.0.0 through 7.0.4, 7.0.6 through 7.0.7, in all 6.4 and 6.2 version management interface may allow an unauthenticated attacker to gain information on environment variables such as the EMS installation path.

Remedy

Please upgrade to FortiClientEMS version 7.2.0 or above Please upgrade to FortiClientEMS version 7.0.8 or above
First published (updated )
Severity
7.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

A download of code without Integrity check vulnerability [CWE-494] in FortiClientMac version 7.0.0 through 7.0.7, 6.4 all versions, 6.2 all versions, 6.0 all versions, 5.6 all versions, 5.4 all versions, 5.2 all versions, 5.0 all versions and 4.0 all versions may allow a local attacker to escalate their privileges via modifying the installer upon upgrade.

Remedy

Please upgrade to  FortiClientMac version 7.0.8 or above. Please upgrade to  FortiClientMac version 7.2.0 or above.
First published (updated )
Severity
5.5
Infoleak
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

An exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor vulnerabiltiy [CWE-200] in FortiClient for Mac versions 7.0.0 through 7.0.5 may allow a local authenticated attacker to obtain the SSL-VPN password in cleartext via running a logstream for the FortiTray process in the terminal.

First published (updated )
Severity
7.5
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

An incorrect permission assignment for critical resource vulnerability [CWE-732] in FortiClient for Linux version 6.0.8 and below, 6.2.9 and below, 6.4.7 and below, 7.0.2 and below may allow an unauthenticated attacker to access sensitive information in log files and directories via symbolic links.

First published (updated )
Severity
8
OS Command Injection, Input Validation
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

An improper input validation vulnerability in FortiClient for Linux 6.4.x before 6.4.3, FortiClient for Linux 6.2.x before 6.2.9 may allow an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on the host operating system as root via tricking the user into connecting to a network with a malicious name.

First published (updated )
Severity
5.3
Infoleak
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

An exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor vulnerability [CWE-200] in FortiClient for Linux version 7.0.2 and below, 6.4.7 and below and 6.2.9 and below may allow an unauthenticated attacker to access the confighandler webserver via external binaries.

First published (updated )
Severity
8.2
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

A combination of a use of hard-coded cryptographic key vulnerability [CWE-321] in FortiClientEMS 7.0.1 and below, 6.4.6 and below and an improper certificate validation vulnerability [CWE-297] in FortiClientWindows, FortiClientLinux and FortiClientMac 7.0.1 and below, 6.4.6 and below may allow an unauthenticated and network adjacent attacker to perform a man-in-the-middle attack between the EMS and the FCT via the telemetry protocol.

First published (updated )

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203