---
id: "CVE-2021-44168"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2021-44168"]
title: "Fortinet FortiOS: Fortinet FortiOS Arbitrary File Download"
severity: "high"
cvss: 7.8
epss: 0.00865
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "Fortinet FortiOS", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "fortigate", "fortios", "infrastructure", "self-hosted"]
not_affected_if: ["unknown"]
published_at: "2021-12-10T00:00:00+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2021-44168", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2021-44168", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-44168", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"}]
---

# Fortinet FortiOS: Fortinet FortiOS Arbitrary File Download

Fortinet FortiOS, the operating system on FortiGate firewalls, has a flaw in its "execute restore src-vis" command that downloads files without integrity checking. An attacker can use it to download arbitrary files from the device.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:Fortinet FortiOS affected ? fixed ?

## Fix

Apply the Fortinet update per vendor instructions (CISA required action); the fixed version is unknown from the sources.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:53+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2021-44168
- 2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2021-44168
- 2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-44168

## From the sources

A download of code without integrity check vulnerability in the "execute restore src-vis" command of FortiOS before 7.0.3 may allow a local authenticated attacker to download arbitrary files on the device via specially crafted update packages.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_