CVE-2022-25293 in Firebox
Summary
by MITRE • 02/24/2022
A systemd stack-based buffer overflow in WatchGuard Firebox and XTM appliances allows an authenticated remote attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code by initiating a firmware update with a malicious upgrade image. This vulnerability impacts Fireware OS before 12.7.2_U2, 12.x before 12.1.3_U8, and 12.2.x through 12.5.x before 12.5.9_U2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-25293 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within the systemd component of WatchGuard Firebox and XTM appliances. This flaw exists in the firmware update mechanism where the system fails to properly validate the size of incoming upgrade images before processing them. The vulnerability specifically affects Fireware OS versions prior to 12.7.2_U2, 12.x versions before 12.1.3_U8, and 12.2.x through 12.5.x before 12.5.9_U2, indicating a widespread impact across multiple release branches of the affected software. The buffer overflow occurs during the firmware update process when an authenticated remote attacker can manipulate the upgrade image to exceed the allocated stack buffer space, potentially leading to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the inherent weakness in input validation within the firmware update handler. When a malicious upgrade image is initiated, the system's stack-based buffer management fails to enforce proper bounds checking, allowing the attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This memory corruption can potentially overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control data structures within the execution context. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates how improper input validation can lead to severe security implications in embedded systems. The attack requires authentication to initiate the firmware update process, but once authenticated, the attacker can leverage this privilege to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-25293 extends beyond simple code execution, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and availability of the affected network security appliances. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain root-level access to the appliance, potentially enabling them to modify firewall rules, intercept network traffic, establish persistent backdoors, or even use the compromised device as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. The implications are particularly severe for organizations relying on these appliances for perimeter security, as the compromise of a single device could provide attackers with unrestricted access to critical network segments. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves the use of command and scripting interpreter for execution, and potentially T1566.001 related to spearphishing with a malicious attachment, as the attack vector involves a crafted firmware update image.
Organizations must implement immediate mitigation strategies to protect against exploitation of CVE-2022-25293. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to the patched versions of Fireware OS, specifically versions 12.7.2_U2, 12.1.3_U8, and 12.5.9_U2 respectively for the affected release branches. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring for unusual firmware update activities and ensure that only trusted, authenticated sources can initiate firmware updates. The vulnerability's impact on embedded security appliances underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust network segmentation to limit the potential blast radius of such exploits. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running vulnerable versions of the software and establish incident response procedures to quickly address potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the updated firmware to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing network configurations and security policies.