# CVE-2021-44168: Fortinet FortiOS Arbitrary File Download

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2021-44168-fortinet-fortios-arbitrary-file-download  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2021-12-10. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2021-44168 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2021-12-10

A download of code without integrity check vulnerability in the 'execute restore src-vis' command of Fortinet FortiOS allows a local authenticated attacker to download arbitrary files via specially crafted update packages. The vulnerability stems from a lack of proper verification for downloaded content.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2021-44168 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2021-44168 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 10 December 2021. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2021-44168?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 10 December 2021.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Fortinet FortiOS before 7.0.3.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2021-44168?** 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-2021-44168 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.

**Am I affected by CVE-2021-44168?** 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 before 7.0.3

## Timeline

- 2021-12-10: disclosed: Date added to CISA KEV catalog
- 2021-12-10: kev added
- 2022-01-04: advisory: NVD Published Date
- 2021-12-10: exploited

## 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)