# CVE-2018-13379: Fortinet FortiOS SSL VPN Path Traversal Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2018-13379-fortinet-fortios-ssl-vpn-path-traversal-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-11-03. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2018-13379 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-11-03

A path traversal vulnerability in the Fortinet FortiOS and FortiProxy SSL VPN web portal allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to download sensitive system files. This is achieved by sending specially crafted HTTP resource requests to the affected device.

Technologies: [Fortinet FortiOS](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/fortios). Vendors: [Fortinet](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/fortinet).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2018-13379 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2018-13379 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 3 November 2021. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2018-13379?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.8, published 3 November 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Fortinet FortiOS 6.0.0 to 6.0.4, 5.6.3 to 5.6.7, 5.4.6 to 5.4.12; Fortinet FortiProxy 2.0.0, 1.2.0 to 1.2.8, 1.1.0 to 1.1.6, 1.0.0 to 1.0.7.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2018-13379?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2018-13379 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2018-13379?** Check whether you run Fortinet FortiOS. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- Fortinet FortiOS 6.0.0 to 6.0.4, 5.6.3 to 5.6.7, 5.4.6 to 5.4.12
- Fortinet FortiProxy 2.0.0, 1.2.0 to 1.2.8, 1.1.0 to 1.1.6, 1.0.0 to 1.0.7

## Timeline

- 2021-11-03: kev added: Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2021-11-03: disclosed

## Related threats

- [Fortinet FortiOS authentication bypass in HA command execution](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-126259-a-missing-authentication-for-critical-function-vulnerability-in)
- [Fortinet FortiOS stack buffer overflow in WAD proxy](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-126258-a-stack-based-buffer-overflow-vulnerability-in-fortinet-fortios)
- [Fortinet FortiOS out-of-bounds read in kernel](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-126256-a-out-of-bounds-read-vulnerability-in-fortinet-fortios-8-0-0)
- [Fortinet FortiOS path traversal authentication bypass in SSH daemon](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-126255-a-path-traversal-filedir-vulnerability-in-fortinet-fortios-8-0-0)
- [Fortinet FortiOS numeric truncation error in BGP daemon](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-126254-a-numeric-truncation-error-vulnerability-in-fortinet-fortios-8-0)