Fortinet FortiOS Use of Hard-Coded Credentials Vulnerability
Fortinet · FortiOS
The Fortinet FortiOS vulnerability is a use of a hard-coded cryptographic key that protects sensitive data inside the configuration backup file. An attacker who can access that backup file and knows the hard-coded key can decrypt users' passwords, private key passphrases, and the High Availability password (when set), though not the administrator's password.
Use of a hard-coded cryptographic key to cipher sensitive data in FortiOS configuration backup file may allow an attacker with access to the backup file to decipher the sensitive data, via knowledge of the hard-coded key. The aforementioned sensitive data includes users' passwords (except the administrator's password), private keys' passphrases and High Availability password (when set).
- Exploited
- Yes, in CISA KEV
- Reports
- 0
- Tactics
- 1/15
How an attack unfolds
Based on MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. mappings. Select a step to see the evidence.Exploitation timelineDated milestones for a CVE: when it was disclosed, when exploit code became public, when exploitation was confirmed, and when threat reports named it.
First seen exploited 4 years after disclosure. Public exploit code (PoC-in-GitHub) appeared 2 years after disclosure.
- Disclosedday 0
- Public exploit codePoC-in-GitHub+2 yrs
- First seen exploitedVulnCheck KEV evidence+4 yrs
- Added to CISA KEVknown ransomware use; EU database agrees+6 yrs
CISA KEV listing is when exploitation was confirmed, not necessarily the first attack.
MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. techniques
2 TechniqueOne specific attacker behaviour in MITRE ATT&CK, such as T1190 “Exploit Public-Facing Application”. IDs with a dot, like T1059.004, are sub-techniques., grouped by TacticThe attacker’s goal at a stage of an attack in MITRE ATT&CK, such as Initial Access or Persistence. Each technique belongs to one or more tactics. in kill-chain order, 2 cited passages 2Credential AccessTA0006
Attacker uses hard-coded key to decrypt backup
Use of a hard-coded cryptographic key to cipher sensitive data in FortiOS configuration backup file
Deciphering yields users' passwords and passphrases
may allow an attacker with access to the backup file to decipher the sensitive data
Detection
0 rules for this CVE · 21 general rules for its techniquesRules for this CVE
0Sigma ruleAn open, vendor-neutral detection rule for log data. Security teams convert Sigma rules into searches for their own SIEM. that reference CVE-2019-6693 directly.CVE-specific rules are not available in this build. Search SigmaHQ ↗
General rules for this CVE’s techniques
These detect the technique in general, not this specific vulnerability.
Unsecured CredentialsT155213 general rules
- Application AppID Uri Configuration Changeshightest
- Potential Okta Password in AlternateID Fieldhightest
- Script Interpreter Spawning Credential Scanner - Linuxhighexperimental
- Script Interpreter Spawning Credential Scanner - Windowshighexperimental
- Added Owner To Applicationmediumtest
- Azure Key Vault Modified or Deletedmediumtest
- Azure Keyvault Key Modified or Deletedmediumtest
- Azure Keyvault Secrets Modified or Deletedmediumtest
Credentials from Password StoresT15558 general rules
- HackTool - SecurityXploded Executioncriticalstable
- DPAPI Backup Keys And Certificate Export Activity IOChightest
- HackTool - WinPwn Executionhightest
- HackTool - WinPwn Execution - ScriptBlockhightest
- Suspicious Serv-U Process Patternhightest
- Dump Credentials from Windows Credential Manager With PowerShellmediumtest
- Enumerate Credentials from Windows Credential Manager With PowerShellmediumtest
- PUA - AWS TruffleHog Executionmediumexperimental
Sigma rules © SigmaHQ, Detection Rule License 1.1; linked, not reproduced.
What security researchers reported
Not named in any threat report yetAlso mentioned in 50 community threat pulses (AlienVault OTX)
Weaker evidencePulses are indicator collections that anyone can publish. A mention is not confirmation of exploitation.
- Stray Cat, Open Doors: How k0t Wanders Through the Network Edge28 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 29, 202628 Oct 2026
- EbeeOct2026 Pt528 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 28, 202627 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 27, 202626 Oct 2026
- Stray Cat, Open Doors: How k0t Wanders Through the Network Edge23 Oct 2026
- 44 more on OTX