CVE-2022-40684
Fortinet Multiple Products Authentication Bypass Vulnerability
Does this matter?
Known to be exploited in the wild (CISA KEV, CISA remediation deadline 1 November 2022). Treat as an emergency change: patch or isolate now, then hunt for prior compromise.
Description
An authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel [CWE-288] in Fortinet FortiOS version 7.2.0 through 7.2.1 and 7.0.0 through 7.0.6, FortiProxy version 7.2.0 and version 7.0.0 through 7.0.6 and FortiSwitchManager version 7.2.0 and 7.0.0 allows an unauthenticated atttacker to perform operations on the administrative interface via specially crafted HTTP or HTTPS requests.
- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 CRITICALCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 99.98% probability · 100th percentile
- Public exploits
- 2 in Exploit-DB · first 27 March 2023
- CISA KEV
- Listed 11 October 2022 · due 1 November 2022 · used in ransomware campaigns
- Weakness
- CWE-287
- Affected
- fortinet/fortiproxy · fortinet/fortiswitchmanager · fortinet/fortios
- Source
- psirt@fortinet.com
EPSS 100.0% since 30 October 2026; no change recorded yet. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
CISA notes
Apply updates per vendor instructions. https://www.fortiguard.com/psirt/FG-IR-22-377; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-40684
Public exploits (2)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
| EDB-ID | Title | Type | Published | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDB-52239source ↗ | Fortinet FortiOS_ FortiProxy_ and FortiSwitchManager 7.2.0 - Authentication bypasswindows · ub3rsick | remote | 16 April 2025 | no |
| EDB-51092source ↗ | FortiOS_ FortiProxy_ FortiSwitchManager v7.2.1 - Authentication Bypassmultiple · Felipe Alcantara | webapps | 27 March 2023 | no |
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/169431/Fortinet-FortiOS-FortiProxy-FortiSwitchManager-Authentication-Bypass.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171515/Fortinet-7.2.1-Authentication-Bypass.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://fortiguard.com/psirt/FG-IR-22-377Mitigation, Vendor Advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/169431/Fortinet-FortiOS-FortiProxy-FortiSwitchManager-Authentication-Bypass.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171515/Fortinet-7.2.1-Authentication-Bypass.htmlExploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://fortiguard.com/psirt/FG-IR-22-377Mitigation, Vendor Advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2022-40684US Government Resource
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.