Severity by source
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Primary rating from Vendor (WatchGuard) · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorVendor: WatchGuard
Lifecycle Timeline
3DescriptionCVE.org
A path traversal vulnerability in the Fireware OS Web UI on WatchGuard Firebox systems may allow a privileged authenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of an elevated system process.This issue affects Fireware OS 12.6.1 up to and including 12.11.8 and 2025.1 up to and including 2026.1.2.
AnalysisAI
Remote code execution in WatchGuard Fireware OS versions 12.6.1 through 12.11.8 and 2025.1 through 2026.1.2 allows privileged authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated system privileges via path traversal in the Web UI. The vulnerability requires high-level administrative access (CVSS PR:H) but presents a direct RCE path once authenticated. WatchGuard self-reported this issue with an official advisory available. EPSS and KEV data not provided; no public exploit identified at time of analysis.
Technical ContextAI
This is a CWE-22 path traversal vulnerability affecting the web-based management interface of WatchGuard Firebox firewall appliances running Fireware OS. Path traversal flaws occur when an application uses user-supplied input to construct file paths without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to navigate outside intended directories using sequences like '../'. In this case, the vulnerability exists in the Web UI component and enables code execution in an elevated system process context, suggesting the traversal allows access to executable paths or configuration files that trigger privileged operations. The affected CPE (cpe:2.3:a:watchguard:fireware_os) confirms this impacts the core operating system across multiple major version branches (12.x and 2025.x/2026.x), indicating a persistent design or implementation flaw in the Web UI's file handling across significant platform updates.
RemediationAI
Organizations should immediately consult WatchGuard's official security advisory at https://www.watchguard.com/wgrd-psirt/advisory/wgsa-2026-00009 for patch availability and specific upgrade instructions. Based on the affected version ranges, patched versions would logically be Fireware OS 12.11.9 or later for the 12.x branch and 2026.1.3 or later for the 2025/2026 branch, though exact fixed versions must be confirmed from the vendor advisory. Until patches can be applied, organizations should implement compensating controls including restricting Web UI access to trusted management networks only via firewall rules, enforcing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, monitoring administrative access logs for anomalous activity, and considering disabling remote Web UI access entirely if command-line management alternatives are viable. Regular review of administrative account credentials and implementation of least-privilege principles for firewall management can reduce exposure window.
More in Fireware Os
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Remote code execution in WatchGuard Fireware OS affects the iked (IKE/IPsec VPN key-exchange) daemon, where a stack-base
Remote code execution in WatchGuard Fireware OS affects the iked IKE/IPsec VPN daemon, where a memory-safety defect lets
Remote code execution in WatchGuard Fireware OS affects the epm (Endpoint Protection Manager) service tied to the deprec
Remote code execution in WatchGuard Fireware OS affects Fireboxes running a Mobile User VPN with IKEv2 that authenticate
Command injection as root in WatchGuard Fireware OS occurs through the BOVPN Over TLS client configuration handling, all
Denial-of-service in WatchGuard Fireware OS lets a remote, unauthenticated attacker crash the IKEv2 VPN service by sendi
Remote, unauthenticated requests to the WatchGuard Fireware OS authentication login interface can crash the management d
Denial of service in WatchGuard Fireware OS allows a remote, unauthenticated attacker to exhaust resources on the applia
Stack-based buffer overflow in the iked (IKE daemon) process of WatchGuard Fireware OS allows a remote unauthenticated a
Remote unauthenticated denial-of-service in WatchGuard Fireware OS targets the iked process, which handles IKE-based VPN
Out-of-bounds read in the WatchGuard Fireware OS iked (Internet Key Exchange daemon) process enables remote unauthentica
Same weakness CWE-22 – Path Traversal
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External POC / Exploit Code
Leaving vuln.today
EUVD-2026-18090
GHSA-8r96-cj5h-474x