CVE-2025-12026
📋 TL;DR
An authenticated privileged user can execute arbitrary code on WatchGuard Fireware OS devices by exploiting an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in the certificate request command. This affects Fireware OS versions 12.0-12.11.4, 12.5-12.5.13, and 2025.1-2025.1.2. Attackers with administrative access can gain full system control.
💻 Affected Systems
- WatchGuard Fireware OS
📦 What is this software?
Fireware by Watchguard
Fireware by Watchguard
Fireware by Watchguard
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise allowing attackers to install persistent backdoors, pivot to internal networks, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disable firewall protections entirely.
Likely Case
Privilege escalation leading to unauthorized administrative access, configuration changes, or lateral movement within the network.
If Mitigated
Limited to authenticated administrative users only, with proper access controls preventing unauthorized administrative access.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires authenticated privileged CLI access. No public exploit code available at time of advisory.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Fireware OS 12.11.5, 12.5.14, 2025.1.3 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://www.watchguard.com/wgrd-psirt/advisory/wgsa-2025-00017
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download latest firmware from WatchGuard support portal. 2. Backup current configuration. 3. Apply firmware update via Web UI or CLI. 4. Reboot device. 5. Verify version is patched.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict CLI Access
allLimit administrative CLI access to only trusted users and implement strict access controls.
Network Segmentation
allIsolate management interfaces from general network access.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict access controls for administrative accounts and monitor for suspicious CLI activity.
- Segment management interfaces and implement network-based intrusion detection for management traffic.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Fireware OS version via Web UI (System > About) or CLI (show version). Compare against affected versions.Check Version:
show versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify version is 12.11.5, 12.5.14, 2025.1.3 or later after patching.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual CLI certificate request commands
- Multiple failed authentication attempts followed by successful admin login
- Unexpected system reboots or configuration changes
Network Indicators:
- Unusual management interface traffic patterns
- CLI sessions from unexpected source IPs
SIEM Query:
source="fireware" AND (event_type="cli_command" AND command="certificate-request") OR (auth_failure AND auth_success AND user_role="admin")