LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2021-44169: A improper initialization in Fortinet FortiClient (Windows) version 6.0.10 and below, version 6.2.9 and bel...

A improper initialization in Fortinet FortiClient (Windows) version 6.0.10 and below, version 6.2.9 and below, version 6.4.7 and below, version 7.0.3 and below allows attacker to gain administrative privileges via placing a malicious executable inside the FortiClient installer's directory.

HighCVSS 8.2Not KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This is a Windows FortiClient privilege escalation issue. A local attacker with limited privileges could gain administrator rights if user interaction occurs and a malicious executable is placed in the FortiClient installer directory. The business risk is endpoint takeover after an initial foothold, not direct internet compromise.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority endpoint hardening and patch-management item. It is unlikely to be the initial breach path, but it could turn a low-privilege compromise into administrative control on Windows systems running affected FortiClient versions.

Technical view

CVE-2021-44169 is an improper initialization flaw in Fortinet FortiClient for Windows. The CVSS 3.1 score is 8.2. The vector is local, low complexity, low privilege required, user interaction required, changed scope, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Fortinet FortiClient on Windows in the affected 6.0.x, 6.2.x, 6.4.x, and 7.0.x ranges listed by the CVE source bundle. Non-Windows FortiClient exposure is not supported by the provided sources.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. Exploitation requires local access, some user interaction, and placement of a malicious executable in the installer directory, so this is mainly a post-compromise privilege escalation risk.

Researcher notes

Evidence is sufficient for affected product, impact, and attack prerequisites, but the provided bundle does not include fixed versions or confirmed exploitation. The 7.0.x affected boundary appears inconsistent between the narrative and enumerated affected list, so confirm against Fortinet’s advisory.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory FortiClient for Windows versions across managed endpoints.
  • Review Fortinet FortiGuard advisory FG-IR-21-238 for fixed release guidance.
  • Upgrade or remove affected FortiClient Windows installations per vendor guidance.
  • Restrict write access to installer locations where operationally possible.
  • Prioritize endpoints used by administrators or remote-access users.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm installed FortiClient Windows versions from endpoint management telemetry.
  • Compare versions against the affected ranges in the CVE source bundle.
  • Check deployment shares and installer directories for inappropriate write permissions.
  • Review endpoint alerts for suspicious executable placement near FortiClient installers.
  • Document any exceptions awaiting Fortinet-confirmed remediation guidance.
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-2021-44169 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
8.2 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:X/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
8.2CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:X/RC:C1.56Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

8.2High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-44169Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:X/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 FortiClientWindowsFortiClientWindows 7.0.2, 7.0.1, 7.0.0, 6.4.7, 6.4.6, 6.4.5, 6.4.4, 6.4.3, 6.4.2, 6.4.1, 6.4.0, 6.2.9, 6.2.8, 6.2.7, 6.2.6, 6.2.5, 6.2.4, 6.2.3, 6.2.2, 6.2.1, 6.2.0, 6.0.10, 6.0.9, 6.0.8, 6.0.7, 6.0.6, 6.0.5, 6.0.4, 6.0.3, 6.0.2, 6.0.1, 6.0.0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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