CVE-2019-6693
CVE-2019-6693 is a security flaw in Fortinet FortiOS, the operating system on Fortinet’s FortiGate firewalls. Attackers can get into Fortinet FortiOS without a valid password. The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks on 25 Jun 2025, and says ransomware gangs have used it.[1]
Fortinet FortiOS is business software or equipment. Most families won’t have it, but attackers break into it to get inside companies, and from there to what those companies hold about their customers, patients and staff. Fortinet has published a fix or advice.
Description
CISA calls it an use of hard-coded credentials in Fortinet FortiOS. In its words: “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.”[1]
The CVE record adds: “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).”[2]
The underlying weakness is hard-coded credentials (CWE-798), in MITRE’s list of common software weaknesses.
It scores 6.5 out of 10 on the Common Vulnerability Scoring System, which rates it medium, scored by NVD using CVSS 3.1.[2]
Affected versions
NVD’s record doesn’t list version ranges for it; Fortinet’s advisory has them[3]. CISA names the product as Fortinet FortiOS.
Most families won’t have Fortinet FortiOS; it’s for whoever looks after IT at work.
Exploitation
CISA added it to its catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities on 25 Jun 2025, 2,043 days after it was made public. CISA lists a flaw only when it has reliable evidence of it being exploited, and gave US federal agencies until 16 Jul 2025 to fix it.[1] CISA says ransomware gangs have used it.
FIRST’s Exploit Prediction Scoring System, which estimates how likely a flaw is to be used in attacks in the next 30 days from what it sees across the internet, puts it at 7%. That’s in the top 7% of the flaws it scores.[4]
CISA assesses it as not automatable: each attack takes some work.
CISA doesn’t say who was attacked, or how.
Fix
Fortinet has published a fix or advice.[3] CISA’s 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.”[1]
- Check whether you use it.Fortinet FortiOS is business software or equipment, so most families won’t have it. If you run a business, or work from home on company equipment, ask whoever looks after your IT.
- Send this page to your IT person.Ask them to confirm it’s fixed, or not in use. CISA gave US government agencies until 16 Jul 2025 to fix it.
- If it can’t be fixed, take it offline.CISA’s advice when there’s no fix is to stop using the product, or take it off the internet, until there is one.
You can’t fix someone else’s server, but you can watch for what follows a break-in like this: a breach notice, a password reset you didn’t ask for, or a scam message that knows things it shouldn’t. HARD watches for those for you and your family.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| The flaw is made public in the National Vulnerability Database, with a severity score of 6.5.[2] | |
| CISA adds it to its catalog of flaws known to be used in attacks, noting that ransomware gangs have used it.[1] | |
| CISA’s deadline for US government agencies to fix it.[1] | |
| FIRST puts the odds of it being used in attacks in the next 30 days at 7%.[4] |
See also
Other Fortinet FortiOS flaws
- CVE-2025-68686: exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor ·
- CVE-2024-21762: out-of-bound write ·
- CVE-2022-41328: path traversal ·
- CVE-2022-42475: heap-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2021-44168: arbitrary file download ·
- CVE-2020-12812: SSL VPN improper authentication ·
Other Fortinet flaws
- CVE-2025-61624, Fortinet products: path traversal ·
- CVE-2026-104286, Fortinet FortiMail: path traversal ·
- CVE-2025-25249, Fortinet products: heap-based buffer overflow ·
- CVE-2026-39808, Fortinet FortiSandbox: OS command injection ·
- CVE-2026-25089, Fortinet FortiSandbox: OS command injection ·
Other hard-coded credentials flaws
- CVE-2026-22769, Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines (RP4VMs): use of hard-coded credentials ·
- CVE-2025-14611, Gladinet CentreStack and Triofox: hard coded cryptographic ·
- CVE-2021-44207, Acclaim Systems USAHERDS: use of hard-coded credentials ·
- CVE-2024-28987, SolarWinds Web Help Desk: hardcoded credential ·
- CVE-2024-3272, D-Link Multiple NAS Devices: use of hard-coded credentials ·
Added the same day
- CVE-2024-54085, AMI MegaRAC SPx: authentication bypass by spoofing ·
- CVE-2024-0769, D-Link DIR-859 Router: path traversal ·
Every Fortinet flaw on CISA’s list · Everything added in June 2025
References
- ^ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Fortinet FortiOS Use of Hard-Coded Credentials Vulnerability”. Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, added 25 Jun 2025.
- ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology. “CVE-2019-6693 Detail”. National Vulnerability Database, published 21 Nov 2019.
- ^ Fortinet. Advisories and fixes: fortiguard.com.
- ^ FIRST. “Exploit Prediction Scoring System”. EPSS 0.066, percentile 93.9, 31 Oct 2026.
- CVE Program. “CVE-2019-6693”. The official CVE record.
This article is built from CISA’s catalog (version 2026.10.30), NVD’s record and FIRST’s scores, kept in HARD’s database and checked every morning. The plain English is HARD’s.