How severe is CVE-2021-32588?

CVE-2021-32588 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2021-32588 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (87th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-32588?

CVE-2021-32588 affects Fortinet Fortiportal. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-32588?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2021-32588 published?

CVE-2021-32588 was published on 2021-08-18 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2021-32588

CVE-2021-32588 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Fortinet Fortiportal with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-798.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.8)
CVSS v2: 10.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 3% (87th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-798
Affected product: Fortinet Fortiportal
Published: 2021-08-18
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

A use of hard-coded credentials (CWE-798) vulnerability in FortiPortal versions 5.2.5 and below, 5.3.5 and below, 6.0.4 and below, versions 5.1.x and 5.0.x may allow a remote and unauthenticated attacker to execute unauthorized commands as root by uploading and deploying malicious web application archive files using the default hard-coded Tomcat Manager username and password.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-32588?: A use of hard-coded credentials (CWE-798) vulnerability in FortiPortal versions 5.2.5 and below, 5.3.5 and below, 6.0.4 and below, versions 5.1.x and 5.0.x may allow a remote and unauthenticated attacker to execute unauthorized commands as root by uploading and deploying malicious web application archive files using the default hard-coded Tomcat Manager username and password.
How severe is CVE-2021-32588?: CVE-2021-32588 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2021-32588 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (87th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-32588?: CVE-2021-32588 affects Fortinet Fortiportal. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-32588?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2021-32588 published?: CVE-2021-32588 was published on 2021-08-18 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://fortiguard.com/advisory/FG-IR-21-077

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:fortinet:fortiportal:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Fortinet Fortiportal

CVE-2021-32590 — Critical (CVSS 9.9): Multiple improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command vulnerabilities in FortiPortal 6.0.0…
CVE-2017-7342 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): A weak password recovery process vulnerability in Fortinet FortiPortal versions 4.0.0 and below allows an attacker to…
CVE-2017-7337 — Critical (CVSS 9.1): An improper Access Control vulnerability in Fortinet FortiPortal versions 4.0.0 and below allows an attacker to…
CVE-2023-48791 — High (CVSS 8.8): An improper neutralization of special elements used in a command ('Command Injection') vulnerability [CWE-77] in…
CVE-2025-24470 — High (CVSS 8.6): An Improper Resolution of Path Equivalence vulnerability [CWE-41] in FortiPortal 7.4.0 through 7.4.2, 7.2.0 through…
CVE-2021-32589 — High (CVSS 8.1): A Use After Free (CWE-416) vulnerability in FortiManager version 7.0.0, version 6.4.5 and below, version 6.2.7 and…

All CVEs affecting Fortinet Fortiportal →

Other CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials) vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-13768 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Gardyn devices expose a privileged iothubowner key. Access to this key will allow a malicious user to invoke an IoTHub…
CVE-2026-45631 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Dokploy is a free, self-hostable Platform as a Service (PaaS). From 0.27.0 to before 0.29.3, a hardcoded…
CVE-2026-22769 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines, versions prior to 6.0.3.1 HF1, contain a hardcoded credential vulnerability.…
CVE-2025-42890 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): SQL Anywhere Monitor (Non-GUI) baked credentials into the code,exposing the resources or functionality to unintended…
CVE-2025-7503 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): An OEM IP camera manufactured by Shenzhen Liandian Communication Technology LTD exposes a Telnet service (port 23) with…
CVE-2025-20309 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A vulnerability in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM) and Cisco Unified Communications Manager Session…

Browse all CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials) vulnerabilities →