CVE-2025-9242

CRITICAL KEV NUCLEI

WatchGuard Fireware OS <12.11.3 - RCE

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

CVE-2025-9242 is actively exploited and listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added November 12, 2025. EIP tracks 3 public exploits from researchers including watchtowrlabs, UnusualGiraffe. A Nuclei detection template is also available.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This repository contains a functional exploit PoC for CVE-2025-9242, an unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability in WatchGuard Firebox's IKEv2 service. The script includes ROP chain construction, shellcode payload generation, and version detection to confirm vulnerability status.

Description

An Out-of-bounds Write vulnerability in WatchGuard Fireware OS may allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code. This vulnerability affects both the Mobile User VPN with IKEv2 and the Branch Office VPN using IKEv2 when configured with a dynamic gateway peer.This vulnerability affects Fireware OS 11.10.2 up to and including 11.12.4_Update1, 12.0 up to and including 12.11.3 and 2025.1.

Exploits (3)

github WORKING POC 11 stars
by watchtowrlabs · pythonremote
https://github.com/watchtowrlabs/watchTowr-vs-WatchGuard-CVE-2025-9242

This repository contains a functional exploit PoC for CVE-2025-9242, an unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability in WatchGuard Firebox's IKEv2 service. The script includes ROP chain construction, shellcode payload generation, and version detection to confirm vulnerability status.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WatchGuard Firebox (versions 2025.1, 12.x, 12.5.x, 12.3.1, 11.x)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to target's IKEv2 service (UDP port 500) · Vulnerable WatchGuard firmware version
mistral-large-3 · analyzed Feb 19, 2026 Full analysis →
github SCANNER
by UnusualGiraffe · pythonpoc
https://github.com/UnusualGiraffe/Mass-Scanner-CVE-2025-9242

This repository contains a detection-only IKEv2 scanner for WatchGuard Firebox devices vulnerable to CVE-2025-9242. It sends non-exploitative IKE_SA_INIT requests to identify exposed versions/builds (Fireware 12.7 build 640389) but does not include exploit payloads or post-authentication logic.

Classification
Scanner 99%
Attack Type
Info Leak
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WatchGuard Firebox (Fireware versions <= 12.7 build 640389)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to UDP ports 500 or 4500 on target devices · Authorization to scan target IP ranges
mistral-large-3 · analyzed Jul 24, 2026 Full analysis →
github WORKING POC
by UnusualGiraffe · pythonremote
https://github.com/UnusualGiraffe/PoC-Unauthenticated-RCE-in-WatchGuard-Fireware-12.7-Build-640389-CVE-2025-9242

This repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2025-9242, an unauthenticated remote code execution vulnerability in WatchGuard Fireware 12.7 (Build 640389). The exploit leverages a buffer overflow in the IKEv2 protocol handling to achieve RCE via ROP and shellcode execution, with runtime page-aligned memory protection bypass.

Classification
Working Poc 98%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Reliable
Target: WatchGuard Fireware 12.7 Build 640389
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Network access to the target's IKE UDP port (default: 500) · Exact firmware version match (12.7 Build 640389) · Callback IP and port for reverse shell
mistral-large-3 · analyzed Jul 20, 2026 Full analysis →

Nuclei Templates (1)

WatchGuard IKEv2 Out-of-Bounds Write Vulnerability
CRITICALVERIFIEDby pussycat0x,DhiyaneshDK,watchTowr
Shodan: html:"Watchguard" html:"Authentication Server"

References (3)

Core 3

Scores

CVSS v3 9.8
EPSS 0.9112
EPSS Percentile 99.8%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation active
Automatable yes
Technical Impact total

Details

CISA KEV 2025-11-12
VulnCheck KEV 2025-10-21
ENISA EUVD EUVD-2025-29699
CWE
CWE-787
Status published
Products (2)
watchguard/fireware 2025.1
watchguard/fireware 11.10.2 - 12.11.4
Published Sep 17, 2025
KEV Added Nov 12, 2025
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026