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Fencer Vulns
critical 9.8

CVE-2022-40684 kev+ ransomware in the critical feed json

An authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel [CWE-288] in Fortinet FortiOS version 7.2.0 through 7.2.1 and 7.0.0 through 7.0…

published 2022-10-18 4 y ago modified 2026-08-06 3 mo ago also EUVD-2022-43955

cvss
9.8
version 3.1, CNA
cisa kev
Exploited
added 2022-10-11, used in ransomware
epss
100.0%
EPSS 100.0% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 99.9%
public exploits
3
Metasploit, Exploit-DB, plus a Nuclei check

Summary

An authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel [CWE-288] in Fortinet FortiOS version 7.2.0 through 7.2.1 and 7.0.0 through 7.0.6, FortiProxy version 7.2.0 and version 7.0.0 through 7.0.6 and FortiSwitchManager version 7.2.0 and 7.0.0 allows an unauthenticated atttacker to perform operations on the administrative interface via specially crafted HTTP or HTTPS requests.

Patch / fix

cisa required action Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  • fortinet fortiproxy 7.0.7
  • fortinet fortios 7.0.7, 7.2.2

Timeline

  1. First public exploit (Metasploit exploit/linux/http/fortinet_authentication_bypass_cve_2022_40684)
  2. CISA SSVC: exploitation active
  3. Added to CISA KEV
  4. Published
  5. CISA patch deadline

Known exploited

Added
4 y ago
Patch by
2022-11-01 (4 y ago)
Ransomware
Known to be used in ransomware campaigns
Required action
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Vendor, product
Fortinet, Multiple Products
CISA name
Fortinet Multiple Products Authentication Bypass Vulnerability

Ransomware

Groups reported to have exploited it in intrusions.

  • Akira ransomware gang

reported by stairwell.com

Ransomware Vulnerability Matrix by BushidoUK (github.com/BushidoUK/Ransomware-Vulnerability-Matrix), reformatted per CVE. CC BY 4.0

ATT&CK techniques

How it is exploited and what it leads to, in MITRE ATT&CK terms.

  • T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application exploitation
  • T1098.004 SSH Authorized Keys primary impact

kev release 2025-07-28, att&ck v16.1. KEV to ATT&CK mappings by the MITRE Center for Threat-Informed Defense (Mappings Explorer, Apache-2.0). © 2026 The MITRE Corporation. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of The MITRE Corporation. Terms of use

CISA SSVC

Exploitation
Active, exploited in the wild
Automatable
yes
Technical impact
total
Assessed
4 y ago

Exploit prediction

99.98% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.9% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).

Exploits and checks

  • Metasploit exploit/linux/http/fortinet_authentication_bypass_cve_2022_40684 Fortinet FortiOS, FortiProxy, and FortiSwitchManager authentication bypass. metasploit exploit, excellent rank, 2022-10-10
  • EDB-52239 Fortinet FortiOS_ FortiProxy_ and FortiSwitchManager 7.2.0 - Authentication bypass remote, 2025-04-16
  • EDB-51092 FortiOS_ FortiProxy_ FortiSwitchManager v7.2.1 - Authentication Bypass webapps, 2023-03-27
  • Nuclei template Fortinet - Authentication Bypass nuclei detection template
  • packetstormsecurity.com http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/169431/Fortinet-FortiOS-FortiProxy-FortiSwitchManager-Authentication-Bypass.html referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified
  • packetstormsecurity.com http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171515/Fortinet-7.2.1-Authentication-Bypass.html referenced PoC, tagged "exploit" by a source, unverified

CVSS scores

assigned by version score vector
CNA 3.1 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:U/RC:C
CNA 3.1 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
NVD 3.1 9.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

  • Fortinet Fortinet FortiOS, FortiProxy, FortiSwitchManager

Classification

Weakness
Technology feeds

References

Sources

Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.