CVE-2025-47761 is a vulnerability identified in Fortinet's FortiClientWindows software versions 7.2.0 through 7.2.9 and 7.4.0 through 7.4.3. The flaw arises from an exposed IOCTL (Input Output Control) interface within the fortips driver component that lacks sufficient access control, classified under CWE-782 (Exposed IOCTL with Insufficient Access Control). This weakness allows an authenticated local user to execute unauthorized code or commands on the affected system. Successful exploitation requires the attacker to have local authentication and an active VPN IPSec connection, which is a prerequisite for interacting with the vulnerable driver. Additionally, the attacker must bypass Windows memory protection mechanisms such as Heap integrity and Hypervisor-protected Code Integrity (HSP), which adds complexity to the attack. The vulnerability impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system by enabling privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.1, indicating high severity, with attack vector local (AV:L), attack complexity high (AC:H), privileges required low (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and scope changed (S:C). No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk to environments where FortiClientWindows is deployed, especially in enterprise VPN scenarios.

For European organizations, this vulnerability presents a significant risk, particularly for enterprises and government agencies that rely heavily on Fortinet FortiClientWindows for secure VPN connectivity. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges, access sensitive data, disrupt services, or move laterally within networks. Confidentiality breaches could expose sensitive corporate or personal data, while integrity and availability impacts could disrupt business operations. The requirement for local authentication and an active VPN IPSec connection somewhat limits the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments with many users or shared workstations. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, critical infrastructure, and government are particularly vulnerable due to the high value of their data and the critical nature of their services. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not preclude future exploitation attempts.

1. Apply patches from Fortinet promptly once they are released to address this vulnerability. 2. Until patches are available, restrict local user privileges to the minimum necessary, preventing unauthorized users from accessing or interacting with the fortips driver. 3. Monitor and audit VPN IPSec connections actively to detect unusual or unauthorized activity. 4. Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous behavior related to driver interactions or privilege escalation attempts. 5. Implement strict access controls on workstations, including disabling unnecessary local accounts and enforcing strong authentication mechanisms. 6. Use application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized code execution. 7. Educate users about the risks of local privilege misuse and ensure that VPN connections are used securely. 8. Consider network segmentation to limit the impact of a compromised endpoint. 9. Regularly review and update security policies related to VPN usage and local system access. 10. Conduct vulnerability scans and penetration tests focusing on FortiClientWindows deployments to identify exposure.