Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Fortinet FortiSIEM Windows Agent 4.1.4 and earlier has a privilege management flaw. A local attacker with some existing access could run privileged code or commands through PowerShell scripts, potentially taking control of the affected Windows host.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority endpoint hardening issue where FortiSIEM Windows Agents are deployed. It can convert limited local access into privileged execution, increasing impact after phishing, credential theft, or insider activity.
Technical view
CVE-2021-41022 is a local privilege escalation in Fortinet FortiSIEM Windows Agent versions 3.1.0 through 4.1.4. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.8 high, with low attack complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Windows systems running the listed FortiSIEM Windows Agent versions. This is not described as unauthenticated remote exploitation; the CVSS vector requires local access and low privileges.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited active exploitation. Available evidence supports local privilege escalation after an attacker already has low-privileged access to an affected Windows endpoint.
Researcher notes
The bundle identifies improper privilege management but provides no CWE, exploit details, or fixed version text. CVSS indicates AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N with full CIA impact and official remediation available. Avoid assuming remote exploitability from the provided evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Identify endpoints running FortiSIEM Windows Agent 4.1.4 or earlier.
- Update affected agents according to Fortinet advisory FG-IR-21-176.
- Restrict local interactive access on systems running the agent.
- Review endpoint controls around PowerShell use and privileged script execution.
- Check Fortinet guidance before applying operational workarounds.
Validation and detection
- Inventory FortiSIEM Windows Agent versions on Windows endpoints.
- Confirm whether any installed version is 4.1.4 or earlier.
- Verify upgraded agents match Fortinet-supported fixed guidance.
- Review endpoint logs for suspicious privileged PowerShell activity.
- Prioritize systems where many users have local access.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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-2021-41022 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- 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:X/RL:O/RC:C
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.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:X/RL:O/RC:C1.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:X/RL:O/RC:C
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://fortiguard.com/advisory/FG-IR-21-176CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.