CVE-2025-11838Network attack vector

VPN service crash via invalid pointer release

Published Dec 4, 2025 · Updated Aug 10, 2026

Memory corruption in WatchGuard Fireware OS allows remote attackers to crash the iked process through crafted IKEv2 traffic. WatchGuard identifies an invalid pointer or reference release in iked but has not disclosed the packet field or code path that causes the incorrect memory operation. Exposure requires Mobile User VPN with IKEv2 or Branch Office VPN with IKEv2 configured with a dynamic gateway peer, and the reported consequence is service interruption rather than data access or modification.

CVSS severity8.7
High
EPSS probability0.50%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory corruption in WatchGuard Fireware OS allows remote attackers to crash the iked process through crafted IKEv2 traffic. WatchGuard identifies an invalid pointer or reference release in iked but has not disclosed the packet field or code path that causes the incorrect memory operation. Exposure requires Mobile User VPN with IKEv2 or Branch Office VPN with IKEv2 configured with a dynamic gateway peer, and the reported consequence is service interruption rather than data access or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-11838
Published
Dec 4, 2025
Updated
Aug 10, 2026
Vendor
WatchGuard Technologies, Inc.
Product
Fireware OS
Classifications
CWE-763, CAPEC-129, T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 4, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 10, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=12.6.1 <=12.11.5
  2. Affected versionversion=2025.1 <=2025.1.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. · Fireware OSversion=12.6.1 <=12.11.5; version=2025.1 <=2025.1.3

Published CVSS scores

8.7WatchGuardCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-763Release of Invalid Pointer or Reference
CAPEC-129Pointer Manipulation
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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