Critical Fortinet FortiClientEMS flaw allows remote code execution
Vulnerabilities mentionedAll →
| CVE | Vulnerability | CVSS | EPSS | Flags | Affected | Exposure | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-21643 | Unauthenticated SQL Injection to Code Execution in Fortinet FortiClient EMS 7.4.4 CVE-2026-21643 is a critical SQL injection flaw (CWE-89, improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command) in Fortinet FortiClient EMS 7.4.4, scored 9.8 critical (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). An unauthenticated remote attacker can trigger it by sending specifically crafted HTTP requests to the EMS server, and successful injection allows execution of unauthorized code or commands, yielding high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Any organization running the affected FortiClient EMS release is exposed, with internet-facing EMS management servers at greatest risk. Exploitation is confirmed: CISA added the flaw to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-04-13, EPSS assigns a 94.1% probability of exploitation within 30 days (99.9th-plus percentile), and news reports describe active zero-day exploitation that prompted Fortinet to issue emergency patches, alongside related FortiClient EMS hotfixes (CVE-2026-35616). Do: Upgrade affected FortiClient EMS 7.4.4 deployments using the emergency patch/hotfix Fortinet has released (see the Fortinet PSIRT advisory for fixed builds), prioritizing internet-exposed EMS servers; federal agencies must satisfy the BOD 22-01 requirement per the KEV listing. Until patched, restrict public exposure of the EMS web interface and review web access and database logs for signs of crafted HTTP requests or unexpected command execution. | 9.8 | 94% | KEV PoC |
| largeon the order of tens of thousands of FortiClient EMS server deployments (estimate) |
Full article208 words · extracted from securityaffairs.com · click to collapse
Pierluigi Paganini
February 09, 2026
Fortinet warns of a critical FortiClientEMS vulnerability that lets remote attackers run malicious code without logging in.
Fortinet issued an urgent advisory to address a critical FortiClientEMS vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-21643 (CVSS score of 9.1).
The vulnerability is an improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL Command (‘SQL Injection’) issue in FortiClientEMS. An unauthenticated attacker can trigger the flaw to execute unauthorized code or commands via specifically crafted HTTP requests.
“An improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL Command (‘SQL Injection’) vulnerability [CWE-89] in FortiClientEMS may allow an unauthenticated attacker to execute unauthorized code or commands via specifically crafted HTTP requests.” reads the advisory.
A successful attack could give attackers an initial foothold in the target network, enabling lateral movement or malware deployment.
The vulnerability was internally discovered and reported by Gwendal Guégniaud of Fortinet Product Security team.
Below are the affected versions:
| Version | Affected | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| FortiClientEMS 8.0 | Not affected | Not Applicable |
| FortiClientEMS 7.4 | 7.4.4 | Upgrade to 7.4.5 or above |
| FortiClientEMS 7.2 | Not affected | Not Applicable |
The company did not disclose whether the vulnerability is currently being actively exploited in the wild.
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