Which products and versions are affected by CVE-2022-40684?

Affected: Fortiproxy (Fortinet) versions 7.2.0; Fortiswitchmanager (Fortinet) versions 7.0.0, 7.2.0; Fortios (Fortinet), among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.

Is CVE-2022-40684 being exploited in the wild?

It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Oct 10, 2022 and is known to be used in ransomware campaigns.

Is CVE-2022-40684 in the CISA KEV catalog?

Yes. It was added on Oct 11, 2022 with a federal remediation due date of Nov 1, 2022.

Is there a public exploit for CVE-2022-40684?

Public exploit code is available.

Is there a fix for CVE-2022-40684?

Fixed versions are available, including Fortios 7.0.7, Fortios 7.2.2, Fortiproxy 7.0.7.

How urgently should CVE-2022-40684 be patched?

Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

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Vulnerability Intelligence

CVE-2022-40684

CriticalExploitedPublic exploit

An authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel [CWE-288] in Fortinet FortiOS version 7.2.0 through 7.2.1 and 7.0.0 through 7.0.6, FortiProxy version 7.2.0 and version 7.0.0 through 7.0.6 and FortiSwitchManager version 7.2.0 and 7.0.0 allows an unauthenticated…

Published Oct 18, 2022 · Updated Aug 6, 2026

Key Facts

Patch immediately

CVE-2022-40684 is a critical-severity vulnerability (CVSS 9.8 v3.1) affecting Fortiproxy (Fortinet), Fortiswitchmanager (Fortinet), Fortios (Fortinet) and 1 more product.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Oct 10, 2022 and is known to be used in ransomware campaigns. Public exploit code is available.
EPSS estimates a 100% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
Fixed versions are available, including Fortios 7.0.7, Fortios 7.2.2, Fortiproxy 7.0.7.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

CVSS v3.1

9.8

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)

100%

Higher than 99.9% of all scored CVEs

Exploited in the wild

Yes

4 catalog listings, used by ransomware

Public exploit code

Available

Proof-of-concept or weaponized module

Get the full CVE-2022-40684 brief as a PDF

Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.

Description

Known-Exploited Catalog Listings

Catalog	Added	Remediation due	Ransomware use
CISA KEV	Oct 11, 2022	Nov 1, 2022	Known
Industry KEV feed	Oct 10, 2022	Nov 1, 2022	Known
CIRCL KEV	Oct 11, 2022	Nov 1, 2022	Known
ENISA EUVD	Oct 11, 2022	n/a	Not reported

Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Affected Products

6 affected entries in total

Product	Affected versions	Fixed in
FortiproxyFortinet	7.2.0	7.0.7
FortiswitchmanagerFortinet	7.0.0, 7.2.0	n/a
FortiosFortinet	See advisory	7.0.7
Fortinet FortiOS, FortiProxy, FortiSwitchManager	>= FortiOS 7.2.1, 7.2.0, 7.0.6, 7.0.5, 7.0.4, 7.0.3, 7.0.2, 7.0.1, 7.0.0; FortiProxy 7.2.0, 7.0.6, 7.0.5, 7.0.4, 7.0.3, 7.0.2, 7.0.1, 7.0.0; FortiSwitchManager 7.2.0, 7.0.0	n/a

Patched Releases

Fortios

7.0.7, 7.2.2

Fortiproxy

7.0.7

Timeline

Added to Industry KEV feed
Oct 10, 2022
Added to CISA KEV
Oct 11, 2022
Added to CIRCL KEV
Oct 11, 2022
Added to ENISA EUVD
Oct 11, 2022
Publicly disclosed
Oct 18, 2022
Last updated
Aug 6, 2026

Weakness Type

CWE-287 Improper Authentication

References

11 more references in the full CVE brief

FAQ

Common Questions.

An authentication bypass using an alternate path or channel [CWE-288] in Fortinet FortiOS version 7.2.0 through 7.2.1 and 7.0.0 through 7.0.6, FortiProxy version 7.2.0 and version 7.0.0 through 7.0.6 and FortiSwitchManager version 7.2.0 and 7.0.0 allows an unauthenticated atttacker to perform operations on the adminis…
Affected: Fortiproxy (Fortinet) versions 7.2.0; Fortiswitchmanager (Fortinet) versions 7.0.0, 7.2.0; Fortios (Fortinet), among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Oct 10, 2022 and is known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
Yes. It was added on Oct 11, 2022 with a federal remediation due date of Nov 1, 2022.
Public exploit code is available.
Fixed versions are available, including Fortios 7.0.7, Fortios 7.2.2, Fortiproxy 7.0.7.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

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