CVE-2025-1910: CWE-77 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection') in WatchGuard Mobile VPN with SSL Client
The WatchGuard Mobile VPN with SSL Client on Windows allows a locally authenticated non-administrative Windows user to escalate their privileges to NT AUTHORITY/SYSTEM on the Windows machine where the VPN Client is installed.This issue affects the Mobile VPN with SSL Client 12.0 up to and including 12.11.2.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2025-1910 is a command injection vulnerability classified under CWE-77, affecting the WatchGuard Mobile VPN with SSL Client on Windows platforms, specifically versions 12.0 through 12.11.2. The flaw arises from improper neutralization of special elements used in command execution within the VPN client software. A locally authenticated non-administrative user can exploit this vulnerability to escalate privileges to NT AUTHORITY/SYSTEM, effectively gaining full control over the affected Windows machine. The vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond local authentication, nor does it require network access, limiting the attack vector to users with existing local access. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.3 (medium severity), reflecting the need for local access but the high impact of privilege escalation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users share machines or where endpoint security is lax. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no patches have been released at the time of disclosure. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used VPN client raises concerns about lateral movement and persistence within corporate networks. The improper command neutralization likely involves insufficient sanitization of input that is passed to system commands, enabling injection of arbitrary commands executed with SYSTEM privileges. This can lead to full system compromise, data theft, or disruption of services. Organizations relying on WatchGuard Mobile VPN with SSL Client should prioritize mitigation and monitoring until patches are available.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-1910 can be significant, especially in enterprises and government agencies that use WatchGuard Mobile VPN with SSL Client for secure remote access. Successful exploitation allows a local non-admin user to gain SYSTEM-level privileges, potentially leading to full control over the endpoint. This can facilitate lateral movement within corporate networks, data exfiltration, installation of persistent malware, or disruption of critical services. The vulnerability undermines endpoint security, which is a foundational layer of defense in depth. In sectors with strict regulatory requirements such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, this could lead to compliance violations and reputational damage. Since the attack requires local access, the threat is heightened in environments where endpoint devices are shared, or where insider threats or compromised user accounts exist. The lack of known exploits currently reduces immediate risk but does not diminish the urgency of remediation. The high availability of Windows endpoints and VPN usage in European enterprises increases the potential attack surface. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks against high-value organizations, especially those with remote workforces relying on VPN connectivity.
Mitigation Recommendations
1. Restrict local user access on Windows machines running WatchGuard Mobile VPN with SSL Client to trusted personnel only, minimizing the risk of exploitation by unauthorized users. 2. Implement strict endpoint security controls, including application whitelisting and behavior monitoring, to detect and prevent suspicious command execution. 3. Monitor event logs and system behavior for signs of privilege escalation attempts or unusual command execution patterns. 4. Isolate VPN client machines from sensitive network segments to limit lateral movement if compromise occurs. 5. Apply principle of least privilege to user accounts and regularly audit local user permissions. 6. Coordinate with WatchGuard for timely patch deployment once available; prioritize patching affected VPN client versions. 7. Educate users about the risks of local privilege escalation and enforce policies to prevent unauthorized software installation or execution. 8. Consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting command injection and privilege escalation activities. 9. Regularly update and harden Windows operating systems to reduce the attack surface. 10. If feasible, temporarily disable or restrict use of the affected VPN client versions until patches are released.
Affected Countries
Germany, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden
CVE-2025-1910: CWE-77 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection') in WatchGuard Mobile VPN with SSL Client
Description
The WatchGuard Mobile VPN with SSL Client on Windows allows a locally authenticated non-administrative Windows user to escalate their privileges to NT AUTHORITY/SYSTEM on the Windows machine where the VPN Client is installed.This issue affects the Mobile VPN with SSL Client 12.0 up to and including 12.11.2.
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
CVE-2025-1910 is a command injection vulnerability classified under CWE-77, affecting the WatchGuard Mobile VPN with SSL Client on Windows platforms, specifically versions 12.0 through 12.11.2. The flaw arises from improper neutralization of special elements used in command execution within the VPN client software. A locally authenticated non-administrative user can exploit this vulnerability to escalate privileges to NT AUTHORITY/SYSTEM, effectively gaining full control over the affected Windows machine. The vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond local authentication, nor does it require network access, limiting the attack vector to users with existing local access. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.3 (medium severity), reflecting the need for local access but the high impact of privilege escalation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users share machines or where endpoint security is lax. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no patches have been released at the time of disclosure. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used VPN client raises concerns about lateral movement and persistence within corporate networks. The improper command neutralization likely involves insufficient sanitization of input that is passed to system commands, enabling injection of arbitrary commands executed with SYSTEM privileges. This can lead to full system compromise, data theft, or disruption of services. Organizations relying on WatchGuard Mobile VPN with SSL Client should prioritize mitigation and monitoring until patches are available.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-1910 can be significant, especially in enterprises and government agencies that use WatchGuard Mobile VPN with SSL Client for secure remote access. Successful exploitation allows a local non-admin user to gain SYSTEM-level privileges, potentially leading to full control over the endpoint. This can facilitate lateral movement within corporate networks, data exfiltration, installation of persistent malware, or disruption of critical services. The vulnerability undermines endpoint security, which is a foundational layer of defense in depth. In sectors with strict regulatory requirements such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, this could lead to compliance violations and reputational damage. Since the attack requires local access, the threat is heightened in environments where endpoint devices are shared, or where insider threats or compromised user accounts exist. The lack of known exploits currently reduces immediate risk but does not diminish the urgency of remediation. The high availability of Windows endpoints and VPN usage in European enterprises increases the potential attack surface. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks against high-value organizations, especially those with remote workforces relying on VPN connectivity.
Mitigation Recommendations
1. Restrict local user access on Windows machines running WatchGuard Mobile VPN with SSL Client to trusted personnel only, minimizing the risk of exploitation by unauthorized users. 2. Implement strict endpoint security controls, including application whitelisting and behavior monitoring, to detect and prevent suspicious command execution. 3. Monitor event logs and system behavior for signs of privilege escalation attempts or unusual command execution patterns. 4. Isolate VPN client machines from sensitive network segments to limit lateral movement if compromise occurs. 5. Apply principle of least privilege to user accounts and regularly audit local user permissions. 6. Coordinate with WatchGuard for timely patch deployment once available; prioritize patching affected VPN client versions. 7. Educate users about the risks of local privilege escalation and enforce policies to prevent unauthorized software installation or execution. 8. Consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting command injection and privilege escalation activities. 9. Regularly update and harden Windows operating systems to reduce the attack surface. 10. If feasible, temporarily disable or restrict use of the affected VPN client versions until patches are released.
Affected Countries
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Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- WatchGuard
- Date Reserved
- 2025-03-03T21:03:19.589Z
- Cvss Version
- 4.0
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 693206ca2bd9ee5f78fbc0dd
Added to database: 12/4/2025, 10:10:18 PM
Last enriched: 12/4/2025, 10:22:34 PM
Last updated: 12/5/2025, 12:28:21 AM
Views: 5
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