CISA Adds Two Known Exploited Vulnerabilities to Catalog
Overview
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added two vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog, indicating that they are actively being exploited by attackers. The first vulnerability, CVE-2025-68686, affects Fortinet's FortiOS, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive information. The second, CVE-2026-16812, impacts Arista's VeloCloud Orchestrator, enabling command injection attacks on the on-premises operating system. These vulnerabilities pose serious risks, particularly to federal agencies, which are urged to prioritize their remediation under Binding Operational Directive 26-04. While the directive specifically targets federal civilian agencies, CISA recommends that all organizations adopt similar risk-based approaches to vulnerability management to protect against these threats.
Key Takeaways
- Active Exploitation: This vulnerability is being actively exploited by attackers. Immediate action is recommended.
- Affected Systems: Fortinet FortiOS (CVE-2025-68686), Arista VeloCloud Orchestrator (CVE-2026-16812)
- Action Required: Federal agencies must prioritize patching these vulnerabilities on publicly exposed assets.
- Timeline: Newly disclosed
Original Article Summary
CISA has added two new vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog, based on evidence of active exploitation. CVE-2025-68686 Fortinet FortiOS Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Vulnerability CVE-2026-16812 Arista VeloCloud Orchestrator On-Prem OS Command Injection Vulnerability These types of vulnerabilities are a frequent attack vector for malicious cyber actors and pose significant risks to the federal enterprise. Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 26-04: Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk establishes vulnerability management requirements for Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies. BOD 26-04 reinforces the importance of the KEV Catalog and requires federal agencies to prioritize rapid remediation of high-risk vulnerabilities, specifically those identified by Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) listed in CISA’s KEV Catalog on publicly exposed assets that grant total control of the asset post-exploitation, while deferring action for lower-risk vulnerabilities. BOD 26-04 further establishes basic expectations for when agencies must check whether threat actors compromised the system before the patch was applied. While BOD 26-04 applies only to FCEB agencies, CISA encourages all organizations to adopt risk-based vulnerability management and prioritize remediation of KEV Catalog vulnerabilities. CISA will continue to add vulnerabilities to the catalog that meet the specified criteria. Aware of an exploited vulnerability not currently listed in the KEV Catalog? Submit it for potential addition through CISA’s KEV Nomination Form. Potential KEV additions must have a CVE ID, evidence of exploitation, and clear mitigation guidance.
Impact
Fortinet FortiOS (CVE-2025-68686), Arista VeloCloud Orchestrator (CVE-2026-16812)
Exploitation Status
This vulnerability is confirmed to be actively exploited by attackers in real-world attacks. Organizations should prioritize patching or implementing workarounds immediately.
Timeline
Newly disclosed
Remediation
Federal agencies must prioritize patching these vulnerabilities on publicly exposed assets. Specific patch numbers or updates have not been mentioned, but organizations should apply relevant security updates from Fortinet and Arista as they become available. Additionally, agencies are expected to check for any prior compromises before applying patches.
Additional Information
This threat intelligence is aggregated from trusted cybersecurity sources. For the most up-to-date information, technical details, and official vendor guidance, please refer to the original article linked below.
Related Topics: This incident relates to CVE, Fortinet, Vulnerability, and 2 more.