CVE-2026-1498 is a high-severity LDAP Injection vulnerability identified in WatchGuard Fireware OS, affecting versions 12.0 through 12.11.6, 12.5 through 12.5.15, and 2025.1 through 2026.0. The flaw arises from improper neutralization of special characters in LDAP queries (CWE-90), allowing an attacker to manipulate LDAP queries sent to the authentication server. This manipulation can enable a remote unauthenticated attacker to extract sensitive information from the LDAP server via exposed web interfaces used for authentication or management. Furthermore, if an attacker has knowledge of a valid user's passphrase, they can leverage partial identifiers to authenticate as that user, potentially gaining unauthorized access to network resources. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and has low attack complexity, making it a significant risk. The LDAP injection occurs because input parameters in the web interface are not properly sanitized before being incorporated into LDAP queries, enabling injection of malicious LDAP filter elements. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's characteristics make it a prime candidate for exploitation once weaponized. The affected Fireware OS versions are widely used in enterprise network security appliances, which often serve as critical points for authentication and access control. The vulnerability's impact is heightened by the fact that LDAP servers often contain sensitive user and organizational data, and unauthorized authentication can lead to lateral movement within networks. The vulnerability was published on January 30, 2026, with no patches currently linked, emphasizing the need for immediate attention from affected organizations.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2026-1498 is significant due to the widespread use of WatchGuard Fireware OS in enterprise network security appliances. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive LDAP directory information, including user credentials and organizational data, compromising confidentiality. Additionally, attackers with partial user credentials can authenticate as legitimate users, undermining integrity and potentially enabling unauthorized access to internal systems, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within networks. This can disrupt business operations and lead to regulatory compliance violations, especially under GDPR, which mandates protection of personal data. Critical infrastructure sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies relying on WatchGuard devices for authentication are particularly at risk. The vulnerability's network-level exploitability without user interaction increases the likelihood of automated attacks. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high severity score indicates that the threat could escalate rapidly once exploited in the wild.

1. Apply official patches from WatchGuard as soon as they become available to address the LDAP injection vulnerability. 2. Until patches are released, restrict access to Fireware OS management and authentication web interfaces to trusted IP addresses via firewall rules or VPNs to reduce exposure. 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on any custom integrations or scripts interfacing with LDAP through Fireware OS to prevent injection attacks. 4. Monitor LDAP server logs and Fireware OS logs for unusual query patterns or authentication attempts that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5. Enforce strong multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users to mitigate risks from compromised credentials. 6. Conduct regular security audits and penetration tests focusing on LDAP authentication mechanisms and network appliance configurations. 7. Educate IT and security teams about the vulnerability and signs of exploitation to ensure rapid detection and response. 8. Consider network segmentation to limit the impact of compromised credentials and restrict lateral movement within the network.