Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2025-9242 is a critical WatchGuard Fireware OS flaw that can let an unauthenticated remote attacker run code on affected Firebox devices. It matters most where IKEv2 VPN features are enabled in the affected configurations. CISA KEV status means exploitation is known, so this is an urgent perimeter-device risk.
Executive priority
Treat this as an emergency remediation item for affected perimeter firewalls. Known exploitation, unauthenticated remote code execution, and VPN exposure create high business risk.
Technical view
The issue is a CWE-787 out-of-bounds write in WatchGuard Fireware OS iked. It affects Mobile User VPN with IKEv2 and Branch Office VPN using IKEv2 with a dynamic gateway peer. Listed affected ranges include 11.10.2 through 11.12.4_Update1, 12.0 through 12.11.3, and 2025.1.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WatchGuard Firebox appliances running affected Fireware OS versions with the specified IKEv2 VPN configurations enabled. Internet-facing VPN services should be treated as highest priority.
Exploitation context
CISA KEV listing supports known exploitation. The source bundle also cites a public exploit reference, increasing urgency for validation and remediation. No exploit mechanics are included here.
Researcher notes
Evidence is strong for affected versions, vulnerable configurations, severity, and known exploitation. The provided bundle does not include fixed-version details or forensic indicators, so remediation specifics should come from WatchGuard’s advisory.
Mitigation direction
- Review WatchGuard WGSA-2025-00015 for fixed versions and required remediation.
- Upgrade affected Fireware OS appliances according to WatchGuard guidance.
- Temporarily reduce exposure of affected IKEv2 VPN configurations where operationally feasible.
- Prioritize internet-facing Firebox devices and managed customer perimeter appliances.
- Monitor WatchGuard and CISA guidance for updated remediation direction.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Firebox devices and record Fireware OS versions.
- Identify Mobile User VPN with IKEv2 configurations.
- Identify Branch Office VPN IKEv2 dynamic gateway peer configurations.
- Compare versions against the affected ranges in the advisory.
- Check whether each device is internet-facing or externally reachable.
Public sources used
Michael Williams reviewed this cited source version on .
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CWE-787: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2025-9242 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.3 (4.0)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CISA KEV status
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N——Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 4.0 score
9.3CriticalVector: CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.watchguard.com/wgrd-psirt/advisory/wgsa-2025-00015CVE reference
- https://github.com/watchtowrlabs/watchTowr-vs-WatchGuard-CVE-2025-9242/blob/main/watchTowr-vs-WatchGuard-CVE-2025-9242.pyCVE reference · exploit
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-9242CVE reference · government-resource
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Out-of-bounds Write
Out-of-bounds Write represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.