WatchGuard Fireware OS is a popular operating system for firewalls that is used to protect business networks from online threats and to manage network traffic. In this long read blog post, we will discuss a recently identified vulnerability, CVE-2022-31749, in WatchGuard Fireware OS that allows a remote attacker to gain unauthorized access to sensitive files. We will also provide a brief code snippet, links to original references, and exploit details.

Description

CVE-2022-31749 is an argument injection vulnerability affecting the "diagnose" and "import pac" commands in the WatchGuard Fireware OS versions before 12.8.1, 12.1.4, and 12.5.10. This vulnerability lets an attacker with unprivileged credentials upload or read files to limited, arbitrary locations on WatchGuard Firebox and XTM appliances. Specifically, an authenticated remote attacker can exploit this flaw to read sensitive files or upload malicious configuration files to compromised devices.

Original References

1. CVE-2022-31749 on NVD
2. WatchGuard Security Advisory

Exploit Details

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker first needs to authenticate with the vulnerable WatchGuard Firebox or XTM appliance. Once authenticated, the attacker can inject malicious arguments into the "diagnose" or "import pac" commands. Consequently, this allows them to upload or read files on the appliance using carefully crafted parameters.

Code Snippet (Example)

The following example illustrates a crafted command that an attacker may use to exploit this vulnerability:

import pac /path/to/malicious/file.extension "../../../target_directory/malicious_file.extension"

In this example, the attacker takes advantage of the relative path traversal to upload the malicious_file.extension to a location outside the intended directory. The "../../../" string results in the bypass of the expected path constraints.

Mitigation

WatchGuard has released patches for this vulnerability in the following Fireware OS versions: 12.8.1, 12.1.4, and 12.5.10. It is highly recommended that users of affected versions update their systems immediately to prevent exploitation.

Furthermore, it is essential to follow the principle of least privilege, which restricts users' access rights to only what is necessary to perform their job functions. This can reduce the risk of an attacker gaining unauthorized access to sensitive files.

Conclusion

CVE-2022-31749 is a critical vulnerability affecting the "diagnose" and "import pac" commands in WatchGuard Fireware OS. An attacker with unprivileged credentials can exploit this flaw to upload or read files in arbitrary locations on a Firebox or XTM appliance. To mitigate this vulnerability, it is vital to apply the patches provided by WatchGuard and adhere to the principle of least privilege.

Keep yourself updated on the latest cybersecurity vulnerabilities and ensure that your systems are patched to prevent unauthorized access to your data and systems.

Timeline

Published on: 01/28/2025 00:15:06 UTC