CVE-2026-24018 Path traversal in FortiClientLinux
A local unprivileged user can escalate privileges to root via symlink following in FortiClient Linux.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-24018?
CVE-2026-24018 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Fortinet Forticlient, published on 10 Mar 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
A UNIX symbolic link (Symlink) following vulnerability in Fortinet FortiClientLinux 7.4.0 through 7.4.4, FortiClientLinux 7.2.2 through 7.2.12 may allow a local and unprivileged user to escalate their privileges to root.
Weakness: CWE-61
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-24018?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Fortinet Forticlient.
How do I fix CVE-2026-24018?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-24018 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2026-24018 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-24018 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Public exploit code: 1 proofs of concept on GitHub.
Other vulnerabilities in Fortinet Forticlient
- CVE-2019-17658 Privilege escalation in Fortinet FortiClientWindows
- CVE-2023-45590 Code injection in FortiClientLinux
- CVE-2017-14184 Information disclosure in FortiClient SSLVPN Client for Linux
- CVE-2016-8493 Privilege escalation in Fortinet FortiClient
- CVE-2020-15934 Privilege escalation in FortiClientLinux
Sources
Also known as GHSA-g7vg-vfvv-mr49.