Active Exploitation of Critical WatchGuard Firebox Vulnerabilities

WatchGuard has confirmed that its Firebox firewall devices are being actively targeted due to a critical remote code execution vulnerability, CVE-2025-32978, which allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary commands remotely. The flaw resides in the Fireware OS Internet Key Exchange (IKE) service and can be exploited if the device is accessible over the internet, potentially giving attackers full control of the firewall. WatchGuard has released emergency patches and indicators of compromise, urging customers to update their firmware immediately or apply temporary workarounds if patching is not possible. The vulnerability affects configurations involving mobile user VPN with IKEv2 and branch office VPNs using IKEv2, even if some configurations have been deleted but others remain.

In response to evidence of active exploitation, CISA has added a WatchGuard Firebox vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog, highlighting the significant risk such flaws pose to federal and enterprise networks. CISA's directive requires federal agencies to remediate these vulnerabilities by a set deadline and strongly encourages all organizations to prioritize patching to reduce exposure to cyberattacks. The inclusion in the KEV Catalog underscores the urgency for organizations to address these vulnerabilities as part of their ongoing vulnerability management practices.