External risk intelligence

WatchGuard Authentication Gateway Improper Authorization Allows Command Execution.

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.3)

CVE-2024-6593

The WatchGuard Authentication Gateway (Single Sign-On Agent) is designed to operate within an internal network environment to facilitate authentication. While it requires network access, it is typically deployed behind internal network controls and is not intended to be exposed directly to the public internet in standard configurations.

Watchguard Authentication Gateway

12.10.2 and earlier

Halo Surface Signal: 2 out of 5 — less likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

This vulnerability affects WatchGuard Authentication Gateway software, which is used for single sign-on. It allows an attacker with existing network access to execute restricted management commands, potentially leading to the retrieval of authenticated usernames and group memberships or the alteration of the agent's configuration. While this specific vulnerability cannot be used to steal user credentials, it could still be a component in a broader attack chain. The main concern is to confirm if this specific technology is in use and, if so, to assess the potential exposure and relevance to your environment.

Unauthorized command execution on authentication gateway.
Key for attackers to gather user information.
Confirm relevance and potential exposure.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker with network access can target the WatchGuard Authentication Gateway. By exploiting an authorization flaw, they could potentially view authenticated usernames and group memberships or alter the agent's settings.

Requires network access to the gateway.
Triggers through improper authorization checks.
Risk of information disclosure or configuration tampering.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

An attacker with network access could leverage this vulnerability to potentially retrieve authenticated usernames and group memberships from the Single Sign-On Agent or alter its configuration. This does not expose user credentials.

System data (usernames, group memberships) at risk.
Network access allows command execution.
Configuration tampering or unauthorized data retrieval.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

The WatchGuard Authentication Gateway's "Single Sign-On Agent" component on Windows has a critical vulnerability that allows for the execution of restricted management commands by an attacker with network access. This could lead to tampering with the agent's configuration, though it does not permit access to user credentials. Real-world responsibility likely falls to infrastructure or platform teams managing the authentication services, in coordination with security teams. The first practical step involves identifying all instances of the affected technology, assessing their exposure and business criticality, and then planning remediation based on the identified risk.

Own by: Infrastructure/Platform Teams.
Verify first: Affected systems and network exposure.
Action: Plan and execute remediation.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the WatchGuard Authentication Gateway?

It is a software component, often called the Single Sign-On Agent, that runs on Windows servers. Its primary purpose is to simplify user access by tracking logins and group memberships, allowing security policies to be applied automatically without requiring users to authenticate repeatedly across various network resources.

What does CWE-863 mean for CVE-2024-6593?

CWE-863 refers to an Incorrect Authorization weakness. In the context of this CVE, it means the software fails to properly verify if a requester has the permission to perform specific administrative actions. Consequently, an unauthorized user can issue management commands that they should have been blocked from executing, leading to unintended control over the gateway's configuration.

How can an attacker trigger this vulnerability?

An attacker must have existing network access to reach the Authentication Gateway. The vulnerability is triggered by sending specially crafted, unauthorized management commands to the service. It is important to note that this flaw does not provide a path to steal actual user passwords or clear-text credentials; the impact is limited to configuration tampering and information disclosure.

Do I need to worry if my gateway is internal?

According to Halo Surface Signal, this software is designed for internal network use and is typically not meant to be public-facing. If your instance is properly secured behind internal network controls, the risk is lower compared to one exposed to the internet. However, you should still evaluate if any compromised machine within your internal network could reach this service.

How should I start responding to this CVE?

Your first step is to inventory your environment to locate all instances of the WatchGuard Authentication Gateway running version 12.10.2 or earlier. Once identified, evaluate the network accessibility of these servers. Prioritize restricting access to these management interfaces and consult official WatchGuard guidance to plan your update or mitigation path.

References

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.