---
id: "CVE-2022-23176"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2022-23176"]
title: "WatchGuard Firebox and XTM: WatchGuard Firebox and XTM Privilege Escalation Vulnerability"
severity: "critical"
cvss: 9.0
epss: 0.10805
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: [{"name": "WatchGuard Firebox and XTM", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["exploited", "firewall", "infrastructure", "self-hosted", "watchguard"]
not_affected_if: ["unknown"]
published_at: "2022-02-24T15:15:28+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2022-23176", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2022-23176", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-23176", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00"}]
---

# WatchGuard Firebox and XTM: WatchGuard Firebox and XTM Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

WatchGuard Firebox and XTM firewall appliances let a remote attacker with low-privileged credentials open a management session with elevated privileges. The attacker gets administrative control of the firewall, which sits at the network edge.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:WatchGuard Firebox and XTM affected ? fixed ?

## Fix

Apply the vendor update per WatchGuard instructions; the sources do not name the fixed version.
Restrict exposure of appliance management interfaces to trusted networks.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:52+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2022-23176
- 2026-10-23T19:13:44+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2022-23176
- 2026-10-23T21:57:35+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-23176

## From the sources

WatchGuard Firebox and XTM appliances allow a remote attacker with unprivileged credentials to access the system with a privileged management session via exposed management access. This vulnerability impacts 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.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_