# CVE-2019-6693: Fortinet FortiOS hard-coded cryptographic key in configuration backups

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2019-6693-fortinet-fortios-hard-coded-cryptographic-key-in-configuration  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2025-06-25. Updated: 2026-05-15  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2019-6693 · Severity: critical · CVSS 6.5 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2025-06-25

FortiOS is the operating system used by Fortinet security devices to manage network traffic and security policies. A vulnerability exists where sensitive information in configuration backup files is protected by a universal, hard-coded password. If an attacker gains access to a backup file, they can easily decrypt it to steal user passwords, private security keys, and high-availability settings, potentially leading to full network compromise.

Technologies: [Fortinet FortiADC](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/fortiadc), [Fortinet FortiOS](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/fortios), [Fortinet FortiProxy](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/fortiproxy), [Fortinet FortiProxy SSL-VPN](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/fortiproxy-ssl-vpn). Vendors: [Fortinet](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/fortinet).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2019-6693 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2019-6693 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 25 June 2025. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2019-6693?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 6.5, published 25 June 2025.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Fortinet FortiOS <= 5.6.10, 6.0.0 to 6.0.6, 6.2.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2019-6693?** 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-2019-6693 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2019-6693?** Check whether you run Fortinet FortiADC, Fortinet FortiOS, Fortinet FortiProxy or one of the others listed at an affected version. 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.

## Technical details

A use of hard-coded credentials (CWE-798) exists in Fortinet FortiOS. The system uses a static cryptographic key to encrypt sensitive data within configuration backup files. An attacker who obtains a backup file can use knowledge of this hard-coded key to decrypt sensitive information, including non-administrator user passwords, private key passphrases, and High Availability (HA) passwords. While the CVSS score is 6.5 (Medium), the vulnerability is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, indicating active exploitation in the wild. Affected versions include 5.6.10 and below, 6.0.0 through 6.0.6, and 6.2.0.

## Affected products

- Fortinet FortiOS <= 5.6.10, 6.0.0 to 6.0.6, 6.2.0

## Timeline

- 2019-11-21: disclosed: Initial NVD publication
- 2025-06-25: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

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- [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)