---
title: "CVE-2025-68686: Fortinet FortiOS Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2025-68686/
description: "CVE-2025-68686 (Fortinet FortiOS): Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). An Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerability [CWE-200]…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2026-02-10
date_modified: 2026-07-28
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2025-68686"
kev: true
cvss: 5.3
epss: 0.29499
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2025-68686: Fortinet FortiOS Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor 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 2026-07-27, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2026-08-10 ; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
- EPSS 29.5% , percentile 98: FIRST’s model estimates a 29.5% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 98% of all scored CVEs (very high). 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 CVE-2025-68686: SSL-VPN Symlink Patch Bypass in KEV — This is not a way in, only a way to stay in on FortiGates that ran SSL-VPN and were already breached; the real problem is that FortiOS 7.2, 7.0 and 6.4 will never get a fix, so plan the move to 7.4.7+ or 7.6.2+.

## What it is

An Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerability [CWE-200] vulnerability in Fortinet FortiOS 7.6.0 through 7.6.1, FortiOS 7.4.0 through 7.4.6, FortiOS 7.2 all versions, FortiOS 7.0 all versions, FortiOS 6.4 all versions may allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to bypass the patch developed for the symbolic link persistency mechanism observed in some post-exploit cases, via crafted HTTP requests. An attacker would need first to have compromised the product via another vulnerability, at filesystem level.

## Affected products (CVE record)

- Fortinet FortiOS: 7.6.0 <= 7.6.1, 7.4.0 <= 7.4.6, 7.2.0 <= 7.2.13, 7.0.0 <= 7.0.19, 6.4.0 <= 6.4.16

## Severity

- fortinet CVSS 3.1: 5.3 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:P/RL:O/RC:C`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: added 2026-07-27; federal due date 2026-08-10. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
- CISA required action: Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active , automatable no , technical impact partial .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 29.50% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 98.

## Sources

- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (fortiguard.fortinet.com)](https://fortiguard.fortinet.com/psirt/FG-IR-25-934)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2025-68686](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-68686)
- [NVD entry CVE-2025-68686](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-68686)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-68686)
- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (cisa.gov)](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk)
- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (cisa.gov)](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-26-04-implementation-guidance-prioritizing-security-updates-based-risk)

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Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2025-68686/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt