# CVE-2023-45590: Code injection in FortiClientLinux

> An attacker can execute unauthorized code by tricking a FortiClient Linux user into visiting a malicious website.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:F/RL:X/RC:X`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 9 Apr 2024
- **Updated:** 12 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rfj2-jrc4-h4mr

## What is CVE-2023-45590?

CVE-2023-45590 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Fortinet Forticlient, published on 9 Apr 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

An improper control of generation of code ('code injection') in Fortinet FortiClientLinux version 7.2.0, 7.0.6 through 7.0.10 and 7.0.3 through 7.0.4 allows attacker to execute unauthorized code or commands via tricking a FortiClientLinux user into visiting a malicious website

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-45590?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Fortinet Forticlient.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-45590?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-45590 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-45590 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-45590 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Fortinet Forticlient

- [CVE-2019-17658](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17658/): Privilege escalation in Fortinet FortiClientWindows (critical 9.8)
- [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)
- [CVE-2019-5589](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5589/): Path traversal in FortiClientWindows (high 8.6)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-45590 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-45590 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Fortinet Forticlient, published on 9 Apr 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-45590 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2023-45590/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-45590/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-45590
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-45590
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-45590

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-45590/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.