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CVE Record

CVE-2021-32592: An unsafe search path vulnerability in FortiClientWindows 7.0.0, 6.4.6 and below, 6.2.x, 6.0.x and FortiCli...

An unsafe search path vulnerability in FortiClientWindows 7.0.0, 6.4.6 and below, 6.2.x, 6.0.x and FortiClientEMS 7.0.0, 6.4.6 and below, 6.2.x, 6.0.x may allow an attacker to perform a DLL Hijack attack on affected devices via a malicious OpenSSL engine library in the search path.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This CVE affects Fortinet endpoint security software on Windows. A local attacker with a low-privileged account could abuse how the software searches for an OpenSSL engine library, causing attacker-controlled code to run in the product context. Successful exploitation could compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability on affected devices.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority endpoint and management-plane patching issue, especially where Fortinet clients run on broadly used Windows systems. It is not confirmed as actively exploited in the provided sources, but the impact rating supports timely remediation.

Technical view

CVE-2021-32592 is an unsafe search path issue in FortiClientWindows and FortiClientEMS. The published vector is local, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, with high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The described attack path is DLL hijacking through a malicious OpenSSL engine library in the search path.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant on Windows endpoints or management systems running FortiClientWindows 7.0.0, 6.4.6 and below, 6.2.x, 6.0.x, or FortiClientEMS 7.0.0, 6.4.6 and below, 6.2.x, 6.0.x.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Exploitation requires local access with low privileges, but no user interaction. The practical risk is higher on shared systems, compromised endpoints, or environments where users can place files in searched library paths.

Researcher notes

The public description is concise and does not provide CWE, fixed versions, or detailed detection logic in the bundle. Analysis should stay tied to the unsafe search path and DLL hijacking mechanism. Avoid assuming remote exploitability or active exploitation without additional cited evidence.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory FortiClientWindows and FortiClientEMS versions across Windows assets.
  • Review Fortinet advisory FG-IR-21-088 for supported fixed versions and upgrade guidance.
  • Prioritize affected endpoint management systems and shared Windows hosts.
  • If upgrade is delayed, request Fortinet-supported workarounds before relying on compensating controls.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether deployed versions match the affected version ranges.
  • Verify upgraded assets no longer run affected FortiClientWindows or FortiClientEMS versions.
  • Review endpoint telemetry for unexpected OpenSSL engine library loads from unusual paths.
  • Check vulnerability management records for CVE-2021-32592 coverage and closure evidence.
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

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CVE-2021-32592 mapping review

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

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (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:F/RL:U/RC:C

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
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:U/RC:C1.85.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-32592Attack 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:F/RL:U/RC:C

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
FortinetFortinet FortiClientWindows, FortiClientEMSFortiClientWindows 7.0.0, 6.4.6 and below, 6.2.x, 6.0.x; FortiClientEMS 7.0.0, 6.4.6 and below, 6.2.x, 6.0.xListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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