Overview
CVE-2025-1545 describes an XPath Injection vulnerability affecting WatchGuard Fireware OS. This flaw could allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to potentially retrieve sensitive information directly from the Firebox configuration. The vulnerability is triggered through an exposed authentication or management web interface and only impacts Firebox systems configured with at least one authentication hotspot.
This advisory provides a detailed analysis of the vulnerability, its potential impact, and recommended mitigation steps.
Technical Details
The vulnerability resides within the Fireware OS versions specified below. Specifically, it occurs due to insufficient input sanitization when processing XPath queries within the authentication or management web interface. By crafting malicious XPath expressions, an attacker can bypass intended security checks and extract configuration data, including usernames, passwords, and network settings. The attack exploits how the system processes XML data and allows injection of arbitrary XPath commands leading to data leakage.
Affected Versions:
- Fireware OS 11.11 up to and including 11.12.4+541730
- Fireware OS 12.0 up to and including 12.11.4
- Fireware OS 12.5 up to and including 12.5.13
- Fireware OS 2025.1 up to and including 2025.1.2
CVSS Analysis
Currently, a CVSS score has not been assigned to CVE-2025-1545. The severity is listed as N/A. However, given the potential for sensitive information disclosure, this vulnerability should be treated with high priority once the official CVSS score is released by NIST.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could have serious consequences:
- Data Breach: The most significant risk is the exposure of sensitive configuration data, including user credentials, VPN settings, and network configurations.
- Network Compromise: Stolen credentials could be used to gain unauthorized access to the network, potentially leading to lateral movement and further compromise.
- Denial of Service: While not the primary impact, the vulnerability could potentially be exploited to cause instability or denial of service by injecting queries that overwhelm the system.
- Reputational Damage: A successful attack could severely damage the reputation of the organization using the affected Firebox.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The primary mitigation step is to upgrade to a patched version of Fireware OS as soon as possible. Refer to WatchGuard’s security advisory for the specific patched versions.
- Upgrade Fireware OS: The recommended solution is to upgrade to a Fireware OS version that addresses this vulnerability. Check the WatchGuard portal for the latest updates.
- Disable Authentication Hotspots (If Possible): If possible, temporarily disable authentication hotspots until the upgrade can be performed. This will reduce the attack surface.
- Monitor Network Traffic: Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity that may indicate an attempted exploit.
- Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF): Consider using a WAF to filter potentially malicious XPath injection attempts if available. While not a complete solution, it can provide an additional layer of defense.
