WatchGuard Firebox and XTM Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
WatchGuard · Firebox and XTM
The flaw affects WatchGuard Firebox and XTM appliances running Fireware OS, where exposed management access allows a privileged management session to be obtained. An attacker with only unprivileged credentials and network access to the exposed management interface can reach the system with privileged rights, with no user interaction required.
WatchGuard Firebox and XTM appliances allow a remote attacker with unprivileged credentials to access the system with a privileged management session via exposed management access. This vulnerability impacts Fireware OS before 12.7.2_U1, 12.x before 12.1.3_U3, and 12.2.x through 12.5.x before 12.5.7_U3.
- Exploited
- Yes, in CISA KEV
- Reports
- 0
- Tactics
- 4/15
How an attack unfolds
Based on MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. mappings. Select a step to see the evidence.How attackers get in
What they do
Exploitation timelineDated milestones for a CVE: when it was disclosed, when exploit code became public, when exploitation was confirmed, and when threat reports named it.
First seen exploited 21 days after disclosure.
- Disclosedday 0
- First seen exploitedVulnCheck KEV evidence+21 days
- Added to CISA KEVEU database agrees+46 days
CISA KEV listing is when exploitation was confirmed, not necessarily the first attack.
MITRE ATT&CKA public catalogue of the techniques attackers use, maintained by MITRE. Patchfirst uses it to describe what attackers do with a vulnerability. techniques
2 TechniqueOne specific attacker behaviour in MITRE ATT&CK, such as T1190 “Exploit Public-Facing Application”. IDs with a dot, like T1059.004, are sub-techniques., grouped by TacticThe attacker’s goal at a stage of an attack in MITRE ATT&CK, such as Initial Access or Persistence. Each technique belongs to one or more tactics. in kill-chain order, 2 cited passages 2Initial AccessTA0001
yields privileged session from unprivileged creds
with a privileged management session via exposed management access
remote access via exposed management interface
allow a remote attacker with unprivileged credentials to access the system
Detection
0 rules for this CVE · 76 general rules for its techniquesRules for this CVE
0Sigma ruleAn open, vendor-neutral detection rule for log data. Security teams convert Sigma rules into searches for their own SIEM. that reference CVE-2022-23176 directly.CVE-specific rules are not available in this build. Search SigmaHQ ↗
General rules for this CVE’s techniques
These detect the technique in general, not this specific vulnerability.
External Remote ServicesT113320 general rules
- External Remote SMB Logon from Public IPhightest
- OpenCanary - SSH Login Attempthightest
- OpenCanary - SSH New Connection Attempthightest
- OpenCanary - Telnet Login Attempthightest
- Running Chrome VPN Extensions via the Registry 2 VPN Extensionhightest
- Unusual Child Process of dns.exehightest
- Unusual File Deletion by Dns.exehightest
- Unusual File Modification by dns.exehightest
Valid AccountsT107856 general rules
- Win Susp Computer Name Containing Samtheadmincriticaltest
- Account Created And Deleted Within A Close Time Framehightest
- Activity From Anonymous IP Addresshightest
- Atypical Travelhightest
- Azure AD Threat Intelligencehightest
- Azure Subscription Permission Elevation Via AuditLogshightest
- External Remote SMB Logon from Public IPhightest
- Impossible Travelhightest
Sigma rules © SigmaHQ, Detection Rule License 1.1; linked, not reproduced.
What security researchers reported
Not named in any threat report yetAlso mentioned in 50 community threat pulses (AlienVault OTX)
Weaker evidencePulses are indicator collections that anyone can publish. A mention is not confirmation of exploitation.
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 29, 202628 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 28, 202627 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 27, 202626 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 24, 202623 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 23, 202622 Oct 2026
- Actively_Exploited_Kev | Oct 22, 202621 Oct 2026
- 44 more on OTX