# CVE-2021-24016: Code injection in Fortinet FortiManager

> Attackers can execute arbitrary commands on victim hosts by crafting policy names that exploit CSV formula injection when exported to Excel.

- **Severity:** Low 3.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N/E:P/RL:X/RC:X`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 30 Sep 2021
- **Updated:** 25 Oct 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-3xr4-xcg2-6xq7

## What is CVE-2021-24016?

CVE-2021-24016 is a low-severity code injection vulnerability in Fortinet Fortimanager, published on 30 Sep 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

An improper neutralization of formula elements in a csv file in Fortinet FortiManager version 6.4.3 and below, 6.2.7 and below allows attacker to execute arbitrary commands via crafted IPv4 field in policy name, when exported as excel file and opened unsafely on the victim host.

Weakness: CWE-1236 (Improper Neutralization of Formula Elements in a CSV File)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-24016?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Fortinet Fortimanager.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-24016?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-24016 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-24016 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-24016 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Fortinet Fortimanager

- [CVE-2024-47575](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-47575/): Fortinet FortiManager Missing Authentication (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-3613](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3613/): Privilege escalation in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-6695](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-6695/): Security feature bypass in Fortinet FortiManager (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-17654](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17654/): Cross-site request forgery in Fortinet FortiManager (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2015-3611](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3611/): Command injection in n/a (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-24016 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-24016 is a low-severity code injection vulnerability in Fortinet Fortimanager, published on 30 Sep 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-24016 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Fortinet Fortimanager. 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-2021-24016/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24016/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-24016
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-24016
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-24016

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24016/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.