Fireware OS: Stack-based Buffer Overflow
CVE-2026-18145 is a high-severity stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Fireware OS from WatchGuard, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 2026.3.2, 2026.2.3, 12.12.3 as the first without the flaw, so updating Fireware OS to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.39% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Fireware OS to 2026.3.2 or 2026.2.3 or 12.12.3 or 12.5.21, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Fireware to 12.5.21 or 12.12.3 or 2026.2.3 or 2026.3.2, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on psirt.watchguard.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| WatchGuard | Fireware OS | 2026.3 up to, but not including, 2026.3.2; 2025.0 up to, but not including, 2026.2.3; 12.0 up to, but not including, 12.12.3; 12.0 up to, but not including, 12.5.21 | 2026.3.2, 2026.2.3, 12.12.3, 12.5.21 |
| WatchGuard | Fireware | 12.0 up to, but not including, 12.5.21; 12.12 up to, but not including, 12.12.3; 2025.2 up to, but not including, 2026.2.3; 2026.3 up to, but not including, 2026.3.2 | 12.5.21, 12.12.3, 2026.2.3, 2026.3.2 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.6 | High | CNA |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.2 | High | NVD |
Official description
A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the spamBlocker (spamd) service of WatchGuard Fireware OS allows an authenticated attacker with administrator privileges to crash the service or potentially execute arbitrary code by sending a specially crafted management request.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Stack-based Buffer Overflow
The product writes past the end of a buffer that was allocated on the stack.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use automatic buffer overflow detection mechanisms that are offered by certain compilers or compiler extensions. Examples include: the Microsoft Visual Studio /GS flag, Fedora/Red Hat FORTIFY_SOURCE GCC flag, StackGuard, and ProPolice, which provide various mechanisms including canary-based detection and range/index checking. D3-SFCV (Stack Frame Canary Validation) from D3FEND discusses canary-based detection in detail.
- Use an abstraction library to abstract away risky APIs. Not a complete solution.
- Implement and perform bounds checking on input.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Other vulnerabilities in Fireware OS
- 9.2 Critical severity
- 9.2 Critical severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 9.2 Critical severity
- 8.7 High severity
Recent Stack-based Buffer Overflow vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.3 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
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