LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2018-9193: A researcher has disclosed several vulnerabilities against FortiClient for Windows version 6.0.5 and below,...

A researcher has disclosed several vulnerabilities against FortiClient for Windows version 6.0.5 and below, version 5.6.6, the combination of these vulnerabilities can turn into an exploit chain, which allows a user to gain system privileges on Microsoft Windows.

HighCVSS 7.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2018-9193 affects FortiClient for Windows versions cited as 6.0.5 and below, including 5.6.6. A local user with low privileges could chain disclosed vulnerabilities to gain SYSTEM-level privileges on Windows. This is not described as remotely exploitable in the supplied sources.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority endpoint hardening issue, not an internet-edge emergency. Prioritize environments where FortiClient is broadly deployed, shared workstations exist, or attackers could obtain low-privileged Windows access through phishing or malware.

Technical view

The CVE describes a local privilege escalation chain in Fortinet FortiClient for Windows. CVSS 3.1 is 7.1 with AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. The bundle does not include CWE detail, exploit proof, or fixed-version text.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Windows endpoints running FortiClient versions identified by Fortinet or the CVE record, especially 6.0.5 and below or 5.6.6. Internet-facing exposure is not indicated because the vector is local and requires prior low-privileged access.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. The risk is post-access escalation: an attacker or malicious insider already able to run code as a low-privileged Windows user may attempt to gain SYSTEM privileges.

Researcher notes

The supplied evidence is limited. It supports local privilege escalation via a vulnerability chain in FortiClient for Windows, but does not include exploit details, CWE mapping, patch text, or active exploitation confirmation. Avoid assuming broader Fortinet product impact without vendor confirmation.

Mitigation direction

  • Review Fortinet FG-IR-18-108 for authoritative affected and fixed-version guidance.
  • Inventory Windows endpoints for FortiClient and record exact installed versions.
  • Upgrade, remove, or isolate affected installations according to Fortinet guidance.
  • Limit unnecessary local user access on systems that still run affected versions.
  • Monitor endpoints for unexpected privilege changes or suspicious FortiClient-related activity.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether each Windows endpoint has FortiClient installed.
  • Compare installed versions against Fortinet advisory FG-IR-18-108 and the CVE record.
  • Verify vendor-recommended remediation was applied successfully on affected endpoints.
  • Check endpoint controls for alerts involving privilege escalation or SYSTEM-level process anomalies.
  • Document any systems that cannot be remediated and track compensating controls.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2018-9193 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.1 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:X/RC:X

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.1CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:X/RC:X1.85.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.1High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2018-9193Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:X/RC:X

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
FortinetFortiClientWindows6.0.0, 5.6.6unaffected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.