Exploitation of FortiClient EMS Vulnerability Leads to Credential Theft
In May 2026, threat actors exploited a critical vulnerability (CVE-2026-35616) in Fortinet's FortiClient Endpoint Management Server (EMS) to deploy credential-stealing malware across managed endpoints. By abusing the trusted endpoint management infrastructure, attackers disguised the malicious payload as a legitimate Fortinet update, executing it via PowerShell. This allowed them to harvest sensitive data, including passwords and autofill details from web browsers, and exfiltrate the information to attacker-controlled servers. The exploitation of this vulnerability underscores the risks associated with unpatched management systems and the potential for widespread compromise through centralized infrastructure. Organizations are urged to apply the latest patches and review endpoint management configurations to mitigate such threats.
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