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CriticalVulnerabilityCVE-2025-61624updated 25 Oct 2026, 17:35 UTC

Fortinet FortiOS, FortiPAM, FortiProxy and FortiSwitchManager: logged-in admins can write or delete system files

A person who already has admin login on these Fortinet devices can abuse certain command-line commands to change or delete files they should not be able to reach. This can break the device or let them hide further changes.

Exploited (CISA KEV)Official, 2 sources
SeverityCriticalCVSS 6 of 10
Being exploited?YesConfirmed by CISA KEV · 16 Oct 2026
Fix available?UnclearNo fixed version published in the sources yet
How sure is this?Official, 2 sourcesBacked by an official source

How the attack works simplified

  1. 1Admin accountAttacker has valid admin login
  2. 2Crafted CLI commandUses path traversal sequences in input
  3. 3Escape directoryReaches paths outside allowed folder
  4. 4Write or delete filesAlters or removes arbitrary system files
  5. ResultDevice files tampered or destroyed

What happened

A path traversal flaw (CWE-22) in specific CLI commands lets an authenticated admin with at least read-write permissions write or delete arbitrary files on affected FortiOS, FortiPAM, FortiProxy and FortiSwitchManager releases.

Why it is dangerous: Attackers who obtain admin credentials, or malicious insiders, can tamper with device files, which can break security controls and persist access. CISA confirms this vulnerability is being exploited in the wild.

Are you affected?

You are affected if you run FortiOS 7.6.0-7.6.4, 7.4.0-7.4.9, or any 7.2, 7.0 or 6.4 release; FortiPAM 1.0-1.7.0; FortiProxy 7.6.0-7.6.4, 7.4.0-7.4.11, or any 7.2 or 7.0 release; or FortiSwitchManager 7.2.0-7.2.7 or 7.0.0-7.0.6.

FortiOS 7.6.0-7.6.4; FortiOS 7.4.0-7.4.9; FortiOS 7.2 (all); FortiOS 7.0 (all); FortiOS 6.4 (all); FortiPAM 1.0-1.7.0 (all listed); FortiProxy 7.6.0-7.6.4; FortiProxy 7.4.0-7.4.11; FortiProxy 7.2 (all); FortiProxy 7.0 (all); FortiSwitchManager 7.2.0-7.2.7; FortiSwitchManager 7.0.0-7.0.6

What to do

  1. Check the Fortinet advisory for the fixed versions and apply the vendor update to every affected device.
  2. If no update is available yet, apply the vendor's mitigation and restrict administrative access to trusted management networks.
  3. Review admin accounts and remove unnecessary admin or read-write privileges.
  4. Follow CISA BOD 26-04 guidance and the Forensics Triage Requirements to check devices for signs of compromise, especially if internet-exposed.

Timeline

  1. 14 Apr 2026, 18:30 UTC
    Publicly disclosed
  2. 16 Oct 2026, 00:00 UTC
    Reported by CISA KEV · CISA KEV
  3. 25 Oct 2026, 17:35 UTC
    GitHub Advisory reported on it · GitHub Advisory

Sources 2 reports, oldest first

Official vendor, government CERT or advisory database

Technical details

ID
CVE-2025-61624 · GHSA-f3vf-64gv-cxr8
CVSS
6 / 10
EPSS
1.3% chance of exploitation within 30 days
Disclosed
14 Apr 2026, 18:30 UTC
On Zero Radar
before the radar started
Last change
25 Oct 2026, 17:35 UTC

The plain-language parts and the attack diagram were written by an AI model (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5) from the sources above. Facts like versions, exploitation and dates come from the sources themselves. How Zero Radar works

Fortinet FortiOS, FortiPAM, FortiProxy and FortiSwitchManager: logged-in admins can write or delete system files · Zero Radar