# CVE-2022-23176: WatchGuard Firebox and XTM Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2022-23176-watchguard-firebox-and-xtm-privilege-escalation-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-04-11. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2022-23176 · Severity: critical · CVSS 8.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2022-04-11

WatchGuard Firebox and XTM appliances running Fireware OS are vulnerable to privilege escalation. A remote attacker with unprivileged credentials can gain a privileged management session if management access is exposed.

Technologies: [Watchguard Firebox](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/firebox), [Watchguard XTM](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/xtm), [Watchguard XTM Appliances](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/xtm-appliances). Vendors: [Watchguard](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/watchguard).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2022-23176 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2022-23176 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 11 April 2022. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2022-23176?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 8.8, published 11 April 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** WatchGuard 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; WatchGuard Firebox; WatchGuard XTM.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2022-23176?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2022-23176 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2022-23176?** Check whether you run Watchguard Firebox, Watchguard XTM or Watchguard XTM Appliances. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- WatchGuard 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
- WatchGuard Firebox
- WatchGuard XTM

## Timeline

- 2022-04-11: disclosed
- 2022-04-11: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog
- 2022-04-11: exploited: Reported as exploited in the wild by Russian hackers per advisory references.

## Related threats

- [WatchGuard Fireware OS out-of-bounds write in iked process](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-14733-watchguard-fireware-os-out-of-bounds-write-in-iked-process)
- [WatchGuard Firebox stored XSS in IPS configuration](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-6946-watchguard-firebox-stored-xss-in-ips-configuration)
- [WatchGuard Fireware OS out-of-bounds write in iked process](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-9242-watchguard-fireware-os-out-of-bounds-write-in-iked-process)
- [WatchGuard Firebox leftover debug code in diagnostic shell](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-4106-watchguard-firebox-leftover-debug-code-in-diagnostic-shell)
- [WatchGuard Firebox and XTM Appliances Arbitrary Code Execution](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2022-26318-watchguard-firebox-and-xtm-appliances-arbitrary-code-execution)