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Findings

CVE-2022-23176

WatchGuard Firebox and XTM Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Published Feb 24, 2022 · corrected/updated Jun 16, 2026 · watchguard fireware · evidence confidence very high

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.

Grounded briefings

Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.

Executive

CVE-2022-23176 is a high public vulnerability record for watchguard fireware. CISA lists it as known exploited. Published remediation guidance: Apply updates per vendor instructions. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.

System administrator

Identify whether watchguard fireware is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: watchguard/fireware; watchguard/fireware (12.1.3); watchguard/fireware (12.5.7); WatchGuard Firebox and XTM. Published remediation guidance: Apply updates per vendor instructions. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.

Security analyst

Signals on file: CVSS 8.8, EPSS 10.8%. CISA lists it as known exploited. Sources contributing to this record: cisa_kev, cve_org, epss, nvd. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.

Exploitation and remediation

  • Exploitation evidence

    Confirmed in CISA KEV since Apr 11, 2022. Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

  • Patch and remediation

    Apply updates per vendor instructions. CISA due date May 2, 2022.

  • Safe detection guidance

    Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

No public source repository is identified for this product.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Feb 24, 2022 · Catalog

    Detected

    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.

  2. Apr 11, 2022 · CISA KEV

    Known exploited

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  3. May 2, 2022 · CISA KEV

    Remediation due

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  4. Jun 16, 2026 · Catalog

    Updated

    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.

Affected

  • cpe watchguard/firewareversion unspecified
  • cpe watchguard/fireware12.1.3
  • cpe watchguard/fireware12.5.7
  • vendor WatchGuard Firebox and XTMversion unspecified

Sources

  • CISA KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2022-23176

    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.

    cisa.gov
  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2022-23176

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2022-23176

    30-day exploitation probability 10.8%

    first.org
  • NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2022-23176

    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

    nvd.nist.gov

References