# CVE-2015-5736: Privilege escalation in n/a

> Local attackers can execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges via a vulnerable driver ioctl call in FortiClient.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 3 Sep 2015
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v2jx-hxfp-h5qq

## What is CVE-2015-5736?

CVE-2015-5736 is a high-severity vulnerability in Fortinet Forticlient, published on 3 Sep 2015. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Fortishield.sys driver in Fortinet FortiClient before 5.2.4 allows local users to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges by setting the callback function in a (1) 0x220024 or (2) 0x220028 ioctl call.

Weakness: CWE-264

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2015-5736?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Fortinet Forticlient.

## How do I fix CVE-2015-5736?

No fix has been published for CVE-2015-5736 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2015-5736 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2015-5736 exists.

Public exploit code:

- PoC for CVE-2015-5736 (github_poc): https://github.com/avielzecharia/CVE-2015-5736
- Fortinet FortiClient 5.2.3 (Windows 10 x64 Pre-Anniversary) - Local Privilege Escalation (exploitdb)
- Fortinet FortiClient 5.2.3 (Windows 10 x64 Post-Anniversary) - Local Privilege Escalation (exploitdb)
- Fortinet FortiClient 5.2.3 (Windows 10 x64 Creators) - Local Privilege Escalation (exploitdb)
- FortiClient FortiShield exploit (CVE-2015-5736) for Windows 10 1809 (github_poc): https://github.com/RainbowDynamix/FortiLOL

## Other vulnerabilities in Fortinet Forticlient

- [CVE-2019-17658](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17658/): Privilege escalation in Fortinet FortiClientWindows (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-45590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-45590/): Code injection in FortiClientLinux (critical 9.4)
- [CVE-2017-14184](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-14184/): Information disclosure in FortiClient SSLVPN Client for Linux (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2016-8493](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8493/): Privilege escalation in Fortinet FortiClient (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-15934](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-15934/): Privilege escalation in FortiClientLinux (high 8.6)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2015-5736 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2015-5736 is a high-severity vulnerability in Fortinet Forticlient, published on 3 Sep 2015. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2015-5736 exists.

Affected product: Fortinet Forticlient. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-5736/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-5736/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-5736
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-5736
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2015-5736

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-5736/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.