---
title: "CVE-2019-6693: Fortinet FortiOS Use of Hard-Coded Credentials Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2019-6693/
description: "CVE-2019-6693 (Fortinet FortiOS): Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). Use of a hard-coded cryptographic key to cipher sensitive data in FortiOS configuration…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2019-11-21
date_modified: 2026-08-04
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2019-6693"
kev: true
cvss: 6.5
epss: 0.0664
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2019-6693: Fortinet FortiOS Use of Hard-Coded Credentials Vulnerability

**Signal:** Exploited: patch now if you run it. CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- 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).

## Affected products (CVE record)

- Fortinet FortiGate: 5.6.9 and below, 6.0.5 and below, 6.2.0

## Severity

- CISA-ADP CVSS 3.1: 6.5 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`

## Exploitation

- 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.

## Sources

- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (fortiguard.com)](https://fortiguard.com/advisory/FG-IR-19-007)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2019-6693](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-6693)
- [NVD entry CVE-2019-6693](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-6693)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2019-6693)

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Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2019-6693/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt