CVE-2025-24472: Fortinet FortiOS and FortiProxy

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 and FortiProxy. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-03-18, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2025-04-08; treat that as the outer limit, not the target. CISA also lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
EPSS 7.2%, percentile 94: FIRST’s model estimates a 7.2% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 94% of all scored CVEs (elevated). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.
Editorial verdict: Check exposure. FortiOS 7.0 Websocket Auth Bypass to Super-Admin — Exploited as a zero-day in late 2024 and patched in January 2025; anyone whose FortiOS 7.0 admin interface was internet-facing back then should audit admin and VPN accounts, not just the firmware version.

What it is

An Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerability [CWE-288] affecting FortiOS 7.0.0 through 7.0.16 and FortiProxy 7.2.0 through 7.2.12, 7.0.0 through 7.0.19 may allow a remote unauthenticated attacker with prior knowledge of upstream and downstream devices serial numbers to gain super-admin privileges on the downstream device, if the Security Fabric is enabled, via crafted CSF proxy requests.

CISA’s summary

Fortinet FortiOS and FortiProxy contain an authentication bypass vulnerability that allows a remote attacker to gain super-admin privileges via crafted CSF proxy requests.

Weakness type: CWE-288.

Product: Fortinet FortiOS and FortiProxy · Assigned by: fortinet · Published: 2025-02-11

Affected and fixed versions

Vendor	Product	Affected versions (per CVE record)
Fortinet	FortiOS	7.0.0 <= 7.0.16
Fortinet	FortiProxy	7.2.0 <= 7.2.12, 7.0.0 <= 7.0.19

Severity scores

Scored by	CVSS	Score	Vector
fortinet	3.1	8.1 High	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H/RL:O/RC:C`

Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
Attack complexity: high (needs special conditions)
Privileges required: none (no login)
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 2025-03-18; federal due date 2025-04-08. 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 total.
FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 7.23% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 94.

Timeline

2025-01-14 — erroneo.us brief: FortiOS 7.0 Websocket Auth Bypass to Super-Admin
2025-02-11 — CVE record published by fortinet
2025-03-18 — Added to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
2025-04-08 — CISA remediation deadline for US federal agencies
2026-08-05 — CVE record last updated

Sources and references

Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.