Security Digest · Vulnerability record · Known exploited
CVE-2019-6693: Fortinet FortiOS Use of Hard-Coded Credentials Vulnerability
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). Use of a hard-coded cryptographic key to cipher sensitive data in FortiOS configuration backup file may allow an attacker with access to the backup file to decipher the sensitive data, via knowledge of the hard-coded key.
CISA KEV · added 2025-06-25 CVSS 6.5 Medium EPSS 6.6% · p94
Should you act?
Exploited: patch now if you run it
CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.
- Yes, if you run Fortinet FortiOS. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-06-25, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2025-07-16; treat that as the outer limit, not the target. CISA also lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
- EPSS 6.6%, percentile 94: FIRST’s model estimates a 6.6% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 94% of all scored CVEs (elevated). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs an account (low (any account)). Exposure depends on who can log in.
What it is
Use of a hard-coded cryptographic key to cipher sensitive data in FortiOS configuration backup file may allow an attacker with access to the backup file to decipher the sensitive data, via knowledge of the hard-coded key. The aforementioned sensitive data includes users' passwords (except the administrator's password), private keys' passphrases and High Availability password (when set).
CISA’s summary
Fortinet FortiOS contains a use of hard-coded credentials vulnerability that could allow an attacker to cipher sensitive data in FortiOS configuration backup file via knowledge of the hard-coded key.
Weakness type: CWE-798.
Product: Fortinet FortiOS · Assigned by: fortinet · Published: 2019-11-21
Affected and fixed versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions (per CVE record) |
|---|---|---|
| Fortinet | FortiGate | 5.6.9 and below, 6.0.5 and below, 6.2.0 |
Severity scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA-ADP | 3.1 | 6.5 Medium | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N |
- Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
- Attack complexity: low
- Privileges required: low (any account)
- User interaction: none
- Scope: unchanged
CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.
Exploitation and urgency
- CISA KEV: added 2025-06-25; federal due date 2025-07-16. Known ransomware use: Known.
- CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active, automatable no, technical impact partial.
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 6.64% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 94.
Timeline
- — CVE record published by fortinet
- — Added to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
- — CISA remediation deadline for US federal agencies
- — CVE record last updated
Sources and references
Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.
Vendor and project advisories, patches
- Listed in CISA KEV notes (fortiguard.com) fortiguard.com
Vulnerability records
- CVE.org record CVE-2019-6693 cve.org
- NVD entry CVE-2019-6693 nvd.nist.gov
Government
All exploited Fortinet vulnerabilities · Today’s Security Digest