A Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information vulnerability [CWE-312] has been identified in FortiClient versions 7.4.0 through 7.4.1, 7.2.0 through 7.2.6, 7.0.0 through 7.0.13 for Windows, and versions 7.4.0 through 7.4.2, 7.2.0 through 7.2.7, 7.0.0 through 7.0.13 for Linux. This vulnerability allows local authenticated users to retrieve VPN passwords via memory dumps due to JavaScript's garbage collector.
The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 5.0, categorized as medium severity. The attack vector is local, requiring high privileges and user interaction, which increases the attack complexity. Despite the requirement for user interaction, the potential for sensitive information exposure places organizations at risk.
Given the potential impact, organizations should prioritize remediation immediately. The publication date of this vulnerability is December 18, 2024, and it has been analyzed with no known public exploits reported at this time.
Organizations using affected versions of FortiClient should assess their environment, implement necessary patches, and monitor systems for any signs of exploitation. The risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive information and potential compliance violations.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability allows local authenticated users to exploit the system due to improper storage of sensitive information. The affected components are FortiClient for both Windows and Linux platforms. The last modified date for this CVE is July 24, 2025.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability is the cleartext storage of sensitive information, specifically VPN credentials, which can be exploited by an authenticated user through memory dumps. The attack vector is local, meaning an attacker needs physical access to the system or must have gained access through other local means.
This vulnerability requires high privileges to execute, which necessitates user interaction to retrieve the sensitive information. The confidentiality impact is high, as attackers may gain access to critical VPN credentials, while the integrity impact is none, and availability is also unaffected.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to VPN credentials, which could lead to further attacks on the internal network. The potential blast radius of this vulnerability is significant, especially for organizations that rely on VPNs for remote access to sensitive resources.
Organizations should assess the likelihood of exploitation based on their environment and user access levels, considering that although the complexity is high, the risks remain substantial.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of FortiClient for Windows are 7.0.0 through 7.0.13, 7.2.0 through 7.2.6, and 7.4.0 through 7.4.1. For Linux, the affected versions include 7.0.0 through 7.0.13, 7.2.0 through 7.2.7, and 7.4.0 through 7.4.2. Organizations should ensure they are using patched versions to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should upgrade to patched versions of FortiClient. Specific versions to upgrade to include FortiClient Windows 7.4.2 or later and FortiClient Linux 7.4.3 or later. If immediate patching is not possible, organizations may consider implementing network controls to restrict access to critical systems and monitoring for suspicious activity.
For further assistance, organizations can engage in continuous penetration testing to better understand their security posture and identify vulnerabilities.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for any unauthorized access attempts and analyze memory dumps for sensitive information exposure. Behavioral anomalies may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability, particularly by local authenticated users.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
This vulnerability highlights the ongoing risks associated with improper data handling and the potential for local attacks to compromise sensitive information. Security teams should consider this a reminder to regularly audit their applications and implement best practices for secure coding.
Organizations can benefit from a proactive approach by implementing a vulnerability management program to continuously monitor and secure their environments.
For organizations utilizing cloud services, a comprehensive cloud security assessment can help identify potential vulnerabilities specific to their deployment.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
.webp)