Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:HCVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.
Summary
CVE-2023-45588 is a high-severity External Control of File Name or Path (CWE-73) vulnerability in Fortinet Forticlient. Its CVSS base score is 8.2 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique NTDS (T1003.003); ranked at the 19th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and AC-3 (Access Enforcement) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
CVE-2023-45588 is an external control of file name or path vulnerability (CWE-73) affecting the FortiClientMac installer in versions 7.2.3 and below, as well as versions 7.0.10 and below. The flaw arises when the installer processes a malicious configuration file placed in the /tmp directory prior to the installation process starting. This vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.2 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating high severity due to its potential for significant impact with changed scope.
A local attacker with low privileges can exploit this vulnerability by writing a malicious configuration file to /tmp and tricking a user into initiating the FortiClientMac installation process, which requires user interaction. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to execute arbitrary code or commands, potentially leading to high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts on the affected system.
The FortiGuard PSIRT advisory (FG-IR-23-345) provides details on this issue, including recommended mitigations and patches, available at https://fortiguard.com/psirt/FG-IR-23-345. The vulnerability was published on 2025-03-14T16:15:27.570.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-49880
Vulnerability Data
An external control of file name or path vulnerability [CWE-73] in FortiClientMac version 7.2.3 and below, version 7.0.10 and below installer may allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code or commands via writing a malicious configuration file in /tmp…
more
before starting the installation process.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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V5.3.2
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Input validation directly rejects or sanitizes untrusted path strings before they reach filesystem operations.
Enforces authorization checks on the actual resource accessed, blocking unauthorized files even when a malicious path is supplied.
Least-privilege limits the set of files or directories any subject can affect, shrinking the blast radius of a path-control flaw.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.