CVE-2026-1498 is an LDAP Injection vulnerability identified in WatchGuard Fireware OS, affecting multiple versions including 12.0 through 12.11.6, 12.5 through 12.5.15, and 2025.1 through 2026.0. The root cause is improper neutralization of special characters in LDAP queries processed by the authentication or management web interfaces. This flaw allows remote unauthenticated attackers to manipulate LDAP queries, enabling them to retrieve sensitive information from the connected LDAP authentication server. The vulnerability can also be leveraged to authenticate as an LDAP user with only a partial identifier if the attacker has the user's valid passphrase, effectively bypassing full identity verification. The attack vector is network-based with no user interaction required, and no privileges are needed to initiate the attack. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality by exposing sensitive LDAP data and integrity by enabling unauthorized authentication. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:N/SC:H/SI:H/SA:N) reflects a high-severity rating due to the potential for significant data exposure and unauthorized access without requiring authentication or user interaction. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the presence of an exposed management or authentication web interface increases the attack surface. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-90, which involves improper neutralization of special elements in LDAP queries, a common injection flaw that can lead to unauthorized data access and authentication bypasses. Organizations relying on WatchGuard Fireware OS for network security should prioritize addressing this vulnerability to prevent potential data breaches and unauthorized access.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of authentication systems. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive LDAP directory information, including user credentials and organizational structure, which may facilitate further attacks such as lateral movement or privilege escalation. The ability to authenticate as a user with only partial identifiers and valid passphrases undermines identity verification processes, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to protected resources. This can disrupt business operations, compromise sensitive data, and damage organizational reputation. Sectors with stringent regulatory requirements such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure in Europe could face compliance violations and legal consequences if exploited. Additionally, the exposure of management interfaces to the internet or poorly segmented networks increases the likelihood of exploitation. Given the widespread use of WatchGuard Fireware OS in European enterprises for firewall and VPN services, the impact could be broad, affecting network security posture and trust in authentication mechanisms.

1. Immediately restrict access to the Fireware OS management and authentication web interfaces by implementing network segmentation and firewall rules to limit exposure only to trusted administrative hosts. 2. Monitor LDAP query logs and authentication attempts for unusual patterns indicative of injection attempts or partial identifier authentications. 3. Apply vendor patches or updates as soon as they are released to remediate the vulnerability; coordinate with WatchGuard support for timelines and interim fixes. 4. Enforce strong passphrase policies and consider multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of unauthorized authentication even if partial identifiers are exploited. 5. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests focusing on LDAP injection and web interface vulnerabilities. 6. Disable or remove unnecessary LDAP query functionalities or interfaces if not required for business operations. 7. Educate administrators on the risks of exposing management interfaces and the importance of secure configuration. 8. Implement intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) with signatures or heuristics to detect LDAP injection patterns targeting Fireware OS.