CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2025-22254NVD status: Modified

FortiOS: Improper Privilege Management

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2025-22254 is a high-severity improper privilege management vulnerability in FortiOS from Fortinet, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. Affected FortiOS versions: 7.6.0 through 7.6.1; 7.4.0 through 7.4.6; 7.2.0 through 7.2.10, and others listed below. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.89% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 60% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of FortiOS you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
  2. Read the advisory on fortiguard.fortinet.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
FortinetFortiOS7.6.0 through 7.6.1; 7.4.0 through 7.4.6; 7.2.0 through 7.2.10; 7.0.0 through 7.0.16; 6.4.0 through 6.4.15Not stated
FortinetFortiProxy7.6.0 through 7.6.1; 7.4.0 through 7.4.7Not stated
FortinetFortiWeb7.6.0 through 7.6.1; 7.4.0 through 7.4.6Not stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.16.6MediumCNA (fortinet.com)
CVSS 3.17.2HighNVD

Official description

An Improper Privilege Management vulnerability [CWE-269] vulnerability in Fortinet FortiOS 7.6.0 through 7.6.1, FortiOS 7.4.0 through 7.4.6, FortiOS 7.2.0 through 7.2.10, FortiOS 7.0.0 through 7.0.16, FortiOS 6.4.0 through 6.4.15, FortiProxy 7.6.0 through 7.6.1, FortiProxy 7.4.0 through 7.4.7, FortiWeb 7.6.0 through 7.6.1, FortiWeb 7.4.0 through 7.4.6 allows an authenticated attacker with at least read-only admin permissions to gain super-admin privileges via crafted requests to Node.js websocket module.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Privilege Management

The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Very carefully manage the setting, management, and handling of privileges. Explicitly manage trust zones in the software.
  • Follow the principle of least privilege when assigning access rights to entities in a software system.
  • Consider following the principle of separation of privilege. Require multiple conditions to be met before permitting access to a system resource.

More Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities (CWE-269)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in FortiOS

All FortiOS vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Privilege Management vulnerabilities

Spotted an error? Tell us.