Fortinet FortiOS SSL VPN Path Traversal Vulnerability

Exploited · KEV 2021-11-03RansomwareMetasploit moduleCVE-2018-13379CWE-22

Exploited since 2021-11-03. 1 of 8 rule sources name it. Our CRS test: blocked.

Edge rules

1/8

Our test

Blocked

CVSS

9.1

EPSS

100.0% Top 0.1%

Posts, 14d

Published

2019-06-04

An Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ("Path Traversal") in Fortinet FortiOS 6.0.0 to 6.0.4, 5.6.3 to 5.6.7 and 5.4.6 to 5.4.12 and FortiProxy 2.0.0, 1.2.0 to 1.2.8, 1.1.0 to 1.1.6, 1.0.0 to 1.0.7 under SSL VPN web… More

Edge coverage

Claimed by vendors

CloudflareBefore feed historyOlder than its feedWe measured: passed AWSBefore feed historyOlder than its feedWe measured: blocked Microsoft AzureRule publishedListed, undated Google CloudBefore feed historyOlder than its feedWe measured: blocked FastlyBefore feed historyOlder than its feed F5Before feed historyOlder than its feed AkamaiNo public sourceNo public changelog OWASP CRSBefore feed historyOlder than its feed

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Ask about CVE-2018-13379: who's covered, what to patch first, how vendors compare. I cite sources and won't help with attacks.

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Severity, decoded

CVSS 3.1

9.1Critical

Critical · 9.1 / 10

Exploitable over the network, with no privileges and no user interaction, leading to full loss of confidentiality and availability.

Over the internetNo login neededNo user actionWorks reliablySerious impact

How the score is built8 metrics

Attack vectorAn attacker can reach it over the internet; no access to your network needed.
Network
Attack complexityNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Low
Privileges requiredNo account or login is needed.
None
User interactionNo one has to click or open anything; the attack works on its own.
None
ScopeThe damage stays within the vulnerable component.
Unchanged
Confidentiality impactAn attacker can read all data the affected component holds, or the most sensitive parts of it.
High
Integrity impactData cannot be changed by the attacker.
None
Availability impactAn attacker can take the component down completely or keep it from serving anyone.
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H

CISA's assessmentSSVC, from the CVE record

ExploitationActive

Attackers are exploiting this in the wild.

AutomatableYes

Attackers can script the attack end to end and hit many targets at once.

Technical impactPartial

A successful attack gives limited control over the affected software or limited access to its data.

Public exploits

4 found

1 Metasploit2 Exploit-DB1 Scanner template0 GitHub PoCs

MetasploitFortiOS Path Traversal Credential Gathererauxiliary · rank Normal
Exploit-DBFortinet FortiOS 5.6.3 - 5.6.7 / FortiOS 6.0.0 - 6.0.4 - Credentials Disclosure2019-08-19 · webapps · hardware
Exploit-DBFortinet FortiOS 5.6.3 - 5.6.7 / FortiOS 6.0.0 - 6.0.4 - Credentials Disclosure (Metasploit)2019-08-19 · webapps · hardware
NucleiCVE-2018-13379.yamldetection template, replayed in our lab

Links are to third-party code: never run it outside an isolated lab.

Timeline

2019-06-04
CVE published
CVE List
2019-08-19
Exploit published on Exploit-DB
Fortinet FortiOS 5.6.3 - 5.6.7 / FortiOS 6.0.0 - 6.0.4 - Credentials Disclosure
2021-11-03
Added to CISA KEV
Confirmed exploitation in the wild
2026-11-02
Our test: OWASP Core Rule Set blocked it
paranoia level 1, anomaly threshold 5, default CRS settings
2026-11-02
Our test: OWASP Core Rule Set blocked it
paranoia level 2, anomaly threshold 5, default CRS settings