# Fortinet FortiOS: FortiOS Use of Hard-Coded Credentials Vulnerability · pwn.watch

> Fortinet FortiOS contains a use of hard-coded credentials vulnerability that could allow an attacker to cipher sensitive data in FortiOS configuration backup file via knowledge of the hard-coded key. Added to CISA KEV on 2025-06-25.

Page: https://pwn.watch/i/fortinet-fortios-cve-2019-6693 · generated 2026-10-22T19:29:07.289Z

## Status
- Severity: critical · status: closed · patch: patched
- Product: Fortinet FortiOS
- Started: 2025-06-25 · closed: 2025-06-25
- CVEs: CVE-2019-6693
- Affected: See vendor advisory / CISA notes (versions not always listed in KEV feed)
- Fixed in: See vendor advisory linked in sources

## Follow this incident
- RSS (one item per update): https://pwn.watch/i/fortinet-fortios-cve-2019-6693/feed.xml
- JSON Feed: https://pwn.watch/i/fortinet-fortios-cve-2019-6693/feed.json
- Full data (timeline, sources, posts, agentBrief): https://pwn.watch/i/fortinet-fortios-cve-2019-6693.json
- This file: https://pwn.watch/i/fortinet-fortios-cve-2019-6693/llms.txt

## Updates (newest first)
- 2025-06-25: CISA added CVE-2019-6693 to the KEV catalog (due 2025-07-16).

## Fix brief
# Security brief: Fortinet FortiOS: FortiOS Use of Hard-Coded Credentials Vulnerability

Source: https://pwn.watch/i/fortinet-fortios-cve-2019-6693 · status: closed (closed Jun 25, 2025) · severity: critical · updated Jun 25, 2025

## Patch status
**PATCHED: fixed releases exist. Upgrade to a fixed version.**

## What it is
Fortinet FortiOS contains a use of hard-coded credentials vulnerability that could allow an attacker to cipher sensitive data in FortiOS configuration backup file via knowledge of the hard-coded key. Added to CISA KEV on 2025-06-25.

Severity detail: CVSS 6.5 (CISA ADP, v3.1); actively exploited (CISA KEV); known ransomware use

- Product: Fortinet FortiOS
- CVE / advisory ids: CVE-2019-6693

## Affected versions
- See vendor advisory / CISA notes (versions not always listed in KEV feed)

## Check whether you're affected
No generic command applies (the product is a hosted service, appliance or desktop app). Check the installed version in its admin UI / About screen and compare with the versions above.

## Fix
Upgrade to one of these fixed versions (or later on the same branch):
- See vendor advisory linked in sources

After upgrading, re-run the checks above and redeploy/restart the affected services.

## Secrets to rotate
This incident involves possible credential exposure. Rotate any credentials (API keys, tokens, env vars, SSH keys) that were present on affected systems or in affected builds while vulnerable/compromised versions were installed, and review access logs.

## Latest updates
- Jun 25, 2025: CISA added CVE-2019-6693 to the KEV catalog (due 2025-07-16).

## Advisories
- [Fortinet advisory: Fortinet FortiOS](https://fortiguard.com/advisory/FG-IR-19-007) (Fortinet)
- [NVD: CVE-2019-6693](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-6693) (NVD)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog) (CISA)

## Caveats
Derived from CISA KEV JSON feed catalogVersion 2026.10.21. CVSS from the CVE record (cvelistV5). Exact affected/fixed version strings are not always in the KEV record; verify against the vendor advisory URL. startedAt uses dateAdded (exploitation may have begun earlier; many entries are older CVEs newly confirmed as exploited in 2025).

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Machine-readable: https://pwn.watch/i/fortinet-fortios-cve-2019-6693.json · all incidents: https://pwn.watch/incidents.json. Verify against the vendor advisory before changing production systems.