Fortinet Code Execution Flaw Exploited in PivotC2 RAT Attacks
Threat actors exploit Fortinet heap-based buffer overflow CVE-2025-25249 to deploy PivotC2 RAT, infecting 178 devices and exfiltrating data from US targets.
SOCRadar reports exploitation of an unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability, CVE-2025-25249 (CVSS 7.4), patched in January in FortiOS and FortiSwitchManager. Attackers scanned over 30,000 IP addresses, infected 178 devices with PivotC2 RAT, and at least two intrusions resulted in data exfiltration, primarily targeting US entities. SOCRadar attributes attacks to a likely Russian-speaking cybercrime actor and suggests the RAT was AI-assisted, in use since July 2026. CISA added the CVE to the KEV catalog with a three-day BOD 26-04 patch deadline for federal agencies.
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