CVE-2019-6693: Fortinet FortiOS Use of Hard-Coded Credentials Vulnerability
Advisory generated from the CVE record, CISA, Exploit Observer and VEDAS: what it is, whether it is exploited, who is affected, and how to fix and detect it.
Generated by VEDAS. Scores as of 2026-11-01 19:19 UTC. Rebuilt every few hours from cve-scores, CISA KEV and vedas-signatures. How this works and its limits.
What it is
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).
Description quoted from the CVE record (assigned by fortinet, published 2019-11-21).
Weakness: CWE-798 Use of Hard-coded Credentials
How it can be exploited
Exploitable over the network with low attack complexity needing low privileges and no user interaction. Impact: confidentiality high, integrity none, availability none. CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
CISA assessment (SSVC): CISA assesses exploitation as active. Automatable: no. Technical impact: partial.
- On CISA KEV since
- 2025-06-25
- US federal deadline
- 2025-07-16
- Ransomware use
- Yes
Public exploit evidence (Exploit Observer)
Also known as: BDU:2022-06544, CNNVD-201911-1195, CNVD-2019-45004, EUVD-2019-16251, GHSA-hx92-84x6-67mx
VEDAS cluster: VEDAS:BRASSYBISON
Exploit Observer links 3 pieces of public exploit code or detection modules that name this CVE or one of its aliases.
Exploit code and modules (3)
Code that names this CVE. A repository can be a working exploit, a scanner, a fake or malware; read it before running anything.
- Code repository: https://github.com/gquere/cve-2019-6693
- Code repository: https://github.com/real4xor/cve-2019-6693
- Code repository: https://github.com/saladandonionrings/cve-2019-6693
Research and write-ups (1)
- Research or write-up: https://www.rapid7.com/db/vulnerabilities/fortios-cve-2019-6693
Vulnerability databases and vendor advisories (6)
Catalogue entries, not exploit evidence.
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/enisa/EUVD-2019-16251
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-hx92-84x6-67mx
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-6693
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2019-6693
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.cnnvd.org.cn/home/globalSearch?keyword=CNNVD-201911-1195
- Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.cnvd.org.cn/flaw/show/CNVD-2019-45004
23 more references returned by Exploit Observer did not name this CVE or an alias, so they are left out.
VEDAS data as of 2026-11-01T17:12 UTC; fetched 2026-11-02.
Live scores
- EPSS
- 0.066
some chance of attack soon - VEDAS
- 0.974
strong exploit evidence - On CISA KEV
- Yes, since 2025-06-25
- Detection rule
- None yet
Thin horizontal line: the “likely” (EPSS 0.10) or “strong” (VEDAS 0.90) threshold. Shaded “no data” areas are periods when cve-scores did not publish. The vertical line is the day CISA added it to its exploited list.
Who is affected
| Product | Affected | Not affected |
|---|---|---|
| Fortinet FortiGate | version 5.6.9 and below version 6.0.5 and below version 6.2.0 | Not stated |
Version ranges exactly as the CVE record states them. “Before X” means X is the first fixed version.
Exploit Observer also maps it to: fortinet fortios.
How to fix it
CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Vendor guidance:
How to detect it
There is no open VEDAS detection rule for this bug yet. It is listed on the detection gaps page if CISA has confirmed attacks.
References
Government sources
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2019-6693 (government-resource)
Other references
- https://fortiguard.com/advisory/FG-IR-19-007 (x_refsource_CONFIRM)
Other databases
Where this comes from
This advisory is generated automatically by VEDAS from: CVE.org record, CISA KEV, cve-scores (EPSS and VEDAS), Exploit Observer. Text in quotes is reproduced from the source; everything else is a fixed template filled with source fields. Nothing here is written by a language model. Check the vendor advisory before acting, and read how VEDAS and Exploit Observer work, and their limits.