---
id: "CVE-2025-68686"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2025-68686"]
title: "fortinet fortios: An Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerability [CWE-200] vulnerability in Fortinet\u2026"
severity: "high"
cvss: 5.9
epss: null
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "vendor"
products: [{"name": "FortiOS", "fixed": ["7.4.7", "7.6.2"], "affected": ">= 7.6.0, <= 7.6.1; >= 7.4.0, <= 7.4.6; 7.2 all; 7.0 all; 6.4 all", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "fortinet fortios", "fixed": ["7.4.7"], "affected": ">= 6.4.0, < 7.4.7", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "fortinet fortios", "fixed": ["7.6.2"], "affected": ">= 7.6.0, < 7.6.2", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "Fortinet FortiOS", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "fortinet", "fortios", "poc-public", "self-hosted", "ssl-vpn", "vendor"]
not_affected_if: ["fortios-7.4.7+", "fortios-7.6.2+", "non-fortinet-products", "ssl-vpn-never-enabled"]
published_at: "2026-02-10T16:16:09+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-24T00:09:50+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2025-68686", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"}, {"source": "analyst", "url": null, "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:42:29+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-68686", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T23:44:51+00:00"}]
---

# fortinet fortios: An Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerability [CWE-200] vulnerability in Fortinet…

FortiOS SSL-VPN symlink persistence patch bypass (CWE-200). The April 2025 patch checked for the substring /lang/custom, so requesting /lang//custom skips the check and serves the root filesystem read-only through a symlink an attacker already planted. It is only abusable on devices already compromised through another bug. Devices that never had SSL-VPN enabled are not affected. Fixed in 7.4.7 and 7.6.2; 7.2, 7.0 and 6.4 have no fix and need migrating. A public PoC and checker exist.

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

## Affected

- vendor:FortiOS affected >= 7.6.0, <= 7.6.1; >= 7.4.0, <= 7.4.6; 7.2 all; 7.0 all; 6.4 all fixed 7.4.7, 7.6.2
- vendor:fortinet fortios affected >= 6.4.0, < 7.4.7 fixed 7.4.7
- vendor:fortinet fortios affected >= 7.6.0, < 7.6.2 fixed 7.6.2
- vendor:Fortinet FortiOS affected ? fixed ?

## How to check

Check the FortiOS version (get system status) against affected ranges, and whether SSL-VPN was ever enabled. Run the ITRESIT checker (github.com/I3IT/Fortigate.Symlink.Persistence.Checker) against the device to test patch status and for a leftover symlink. Look in web logs for requests containing /lang//custom or other access to the language directory. Treat any device that was exposed and unpatched during the 2023-2025 SSL-VPN exploitation as possibly compromised.

## Fix

Upgrade FortiOS 7.4 to 7.4.7 or later and 7.6 to 7.6.2 or later. For 7.2, 7.0 and 6.4, migrate to a fixed release. Fortinet also offers a virtual patch, FG-VD-60389.0day, in the FMWP IPS db update 26.033. If a symlink is found, assume the config and secrets were read: rotate credentials, VPN PSKs and certificates.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2025-68686
- 2026-10-23T21:42:29+00:00 analyst — Read FortiGuard FG-IR-25-934 (published 2026-02-10) and ITRESIT PoC write-up; KEV listing taken from the triage source, not re-checked. Social chatter not searched.
- 2026-10-23T23:44:51+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-68686

## Documents

- [advisory] FG-IR-25-934 SSL-VPN Symlink Persistence Patch Bypass https://fortiguard.fortinet.com/psirt/FG-IR-25-934
- [mitigation] Fortinet: Analysis of Threat Actor Activity (symlink persistence) https://www.fortinet.com/blog/psirt-blogs/analysis-of-threat-actor-activity
- [poc] ITRESIT: double slash bypass of FortiGate symlink patch https://labs.itresit.es/2026/02/11/fortigate-symlink-persistence-method-patch-bypass-cve-2025-68686/

## From the sources

Fortinet FortiOS contains an exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor vulnerability. This may allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to bypass the patch developed for the symbolic link persistency mechanism observed in some post-exploit cases, via crafted HTTP requests. An attacker would need first to have compromised the product via another vulnerability, at filesystem level.

CISA required action: Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.

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