Fireware v2025.1.1 Release Notes

Overview

Introduction

Fireware v2025.1.1 resolves a critical security issue in Fireware. It is critical that you upgrade your Firebox to this release to prevent exposure.

This release also adds support for the new Firebox T115-W, T125, T125-W, T145, and T145-W models, includes bug fixes for the Firebox T185, and updates the Mobile VPN with SSL Client.

For a full list of the enhancements in this release, go to Enhancements and Resolved Issues.

Before You Begin

Before you install this release, make sure that you have:

• A supported WatchGuard Firebox. This device can be a WatchGuard Firebox T115-W, T125, T145, or T185.
• The required hardware and software components. If you use WatchGuard System Manager (WSM), make sure your WSM version is equal to or higher than the version of Fireware OS installed on your Firebox and the version of WSM installed on your Management Server.
• A feature key for your Firebox. If you upgrade your device from an earlier version of Fireware OS, you can use your existing feature key. If you do not have a feature key for your device, you can log in to the WatchGuard website to download it.
• Awareness of any Known Issues that are especially important before you upgrade, either to or from specific versions of Fireware. To learn more, go to Release-specific upgrade notes.

Note that you can install and use WatchGuard System Manager v2025.1.1 and WSM server components with devices that run earlier versions of Fireware. It is recommended to use the product software that matches your Fireware OS version.

If you have a new Firebox, use the instructions in the Quick Start Guide that shipped with your device. For a new FireboxV installation, carefully review Fireware Help in the WatchGuard Help Center for important installation and setup instructions. It is also recommended to review the Hardware Guide for your Firebox model, which contains useful information about device interfaces and resetting your device to factory default settings.

Product documentation for all WatchGuard products is available on the WatchGuard web site at https://www.watchguard.com/wgrd-help/documentation.

Enhancements and Resolved Issues in Fireware v2025.1.1

Security Issues

• This release resolves a critical security issue for WatchGuard Fireboxes discovered through ongoing internal programs to test product security (CVE-2025-9242). There is no indication that this has been exploited in the wild. It is critical to upgrade your Firebox to v2025.1.1 to prevent exposure. View the full advisory details on psirt.watchguard.com. [WGSA-2025-00015]

General

• Adds support for new Firebox T115-W, T125, T125-W, T145, and T145-W models. Note: Wi-Fi 7 support for wireless models will be available in an upcoming Fireware update.
• The 0/WAN interface LED indicators no longer stay lit after a Firebox T185 device shuts down. [FBX-30181]
• The default WebBlocker Exceptions list now includes wg.cloud.threatseeker.com/* for Firebox T185 devices. [FBX-30183]
• Resolves an snmpd crash on Firebox T185 devices. [FBX-30247]
• Resolves a networkd crash on Firebox T185 devices. [FBX-30285]
• The Interface Overflow Multi-WAN failover mode now works correctly on Firebox T185 devices. [FBX-30217]
• The Authentication Servers configuration within the Mobile VPN configuration in Policy Manager now enables configuration of authentication servers other than RADIUS. [FBX-30232]
• For VPN Phase 2 proposals, the default value for traffic-based force key expiration is now 1024 MB and the minimum value is 512 MB. Traffic-based key expiration is not enabled by default. [FBX-30311]
• Resolves an issue where Security Services Statistics logging was disabled when the configuration was saved from Policy Manager. [FBX-30162]

Resolved Issues in Mobile VPN with SSL Client for Windows v12.11.4

The Mobile VPN with SSL Client v12.11.4 includes only bug fixes. Mobile VPN with SSL is not affected by critical security issue CVE-2025-9242.

• Mobile VPN with SSL Client SAML connections no longer fail after upgrading Microsoft Edge WebView2 to v139. [FBX-30242]
• To support updates by WatchGuard Patch Management, the Mobile VPN with SSL Client installer can now close a running client during an update. [FBX-29081]
• The log viewer no longer shows error messages when the Mobile VPN with SSL connection is successful. [FBX-29877, FBX-29733]
• Text boxes in the Mobile VPN with SSL Client UI now support the CTRL+A (Select All) keyboard shortcut. [FBX-30107]

Known Issues and Limitations

Known issues for Fireware v2025.1.1 and its management applications, including workarounds where available, can be found on the Technical Search > Knowledge Base tab. To go to known issues for a specific release, use the Product & Version filters to expand the Fireware version list and select the check box for that version.

Some Known Issues are especially important to be aware of before you upgrade, either to or from specific versions of Fireware. To learn more, go to Release-specific upgrade notes.

Download Software

Software can be downloaded from the WatchGuard Software Downloads Center.

Several software files are available for download with this release. The descriptions below detail which software packages are needed for your upgrade.

WatchGuard System Manager

This software package allows installation of WSM and WatchGuard Server Center software:

• WSM_2025_1_1.exe: Use this file to install WSM v2025.1.1 or to upgrade WatchGuard System Manager from an earlier version.

Fireware OS

You can upgrade Fireware OS on your Firebox automatically from the Fireware Web UI System > Upgrade OS page or from WatchGuard Cloud.

If you prefer to upgrade from Policy Manager, or from an earlier version of Fireware, you can download the Fireware OS image for your Firebox. Use the .exe file to install or upgrade the OS using WSM. Use the .zip file to install or upgrade the OS manually using Fireware Web UI.

Additional Firebox Software

The files in the list below are not directly used by the Firebox or for Firebox management, but are necessary for key features to work. In most cases, the file name includes the Fireware version that was current at the time of release.

¹ The version number in this file name does not match any Fireware version number.

² There is a license required for this premium client, with a 30-day free trial available with download.

³ Click here for more information about MVLS. If you have a VPN bundle ID for macOS, it must be updated on the license server to support the macOS 3.00 or higher client. To update your bundle ID, contact WatchGuard Customer Support. Make sure to have your existing bundle ID available to expedite the update.

⁴ SSO Agent v12.10.2 supports Fireware v12.5.4 or higher only. Before you install SSO Agent v12.10.2, you must upgrade the Firebox to Fireware v12.5.4 or higher. If you install SSO Agent v12.10.2, it is recommended that you upgrade all SSO Clients to v12.7. You cannot use SSO Client v12.7 with versions of the SSO Agent lower than v12.5.4. Fireware v12.11 supports previous versions of the SSO Agent.

Upgrade to Fireware v2025.1.1

Important information about the upgrade process:

• You can use WatchGuard Cloud, Fireware Web UI, or Policy Manager to upgrade your Firebox.
• It is strongly recommended to save a local copy of your Firebox configuration and create a Firebox backup image before you upgrade.
• If you use WatchGuard System Manager (WSM), make sure your WSM version is equal to or higher than the version of Fireware OS installed on your Firebox and the version of WSM installed on your Management Server. Also, make sure to upgrade WSM before you upgrade the version of Fireware OS on your Firebox.

Back Up Your WatchGuard Servers

It is not usually necessary to uninstall your previous server or client software when you upgrade to WSM v2025.1.1. You can install the v2025.1.1 server and client software on top of your existing installation to upgrade your WatchGuard software components. However, it is strongly recommended to back up your WatchGuard Servers (for example, your WatchGuard Management Server) to a safe location before you upgrade. These backup files will be needed if you ever want to downgrade.

For instructions on how to back up your Management Server configuration, go to Fireware Help.

Upgrade to Fireware v2025.1.1 from WatchGuard Cloud

From WatchGuard Cloud, you can upgrade the firmware for a Firebox that runs Fireware v12.5.2 or higher. To upgrade from WatchGuard Cloud, go to Upgrade Firmware from WatchGuard Cloud in WatchGuard Cloud Help.

Upgrade to Fireware v2025.1.1 from Fireware Web UI

You can upgrade the Fireware OS on your Firebox automatically from the System > Upgrade OS page. To upgrade manually, go to Upgrade Fireware OS or WatchGuard System Manager in Fireware Help.

If you have installed another release of this OS version on your computer, you must run the installer twice (once to remove the previous release and again to install this release).

Upgrade to Fireware v2025.1.1 from WSM/Policy Manager

To upgrade from WSM/Policy Manager, go to Upgrade Fireware OS or WatchGuard System Manager in Fireware Help.

If you have installed another release of this OS version on your computer, you must run the installer twice (once to remove the previous release and again to install this release).

If you like to make updates to your Firebox configuration from a saved configuration file, make sure you open the configuration from the Firebox and save it to a new file after you upgrade. This is to ensure that you do not overwrite any configuration changes that were made as part of the upgrade.

Update Access Points

All access point (AP) firmware is managed by the Gateway Wireless Controller on your Firebox. The Gateway Wireless Controller automatically checks for new AP firmware updates and enables you to download the firmware directly from WatchGuard servers.

? As of Fireware v12.11, only AP125, AP225W, AP325, AP327X, AP420 devices that run the latest v11.0.0-36-4 AP firmware are supported by the Gateway Wireless Controller. Upgrade to the latest AP firmware before you upgrade to Fireware v12.11 or higher.

AP Firmware Upgrade

To manage AP firmware and download the latest AP firmware to your Firebox:

• From Fireware Web UI, select Dashboard > Gateway Wireless Controller. From the Summary tab, click Manage Firmware.
• From Firebox System Manager, select the Gateway Wireless Controller tab, then click Manage Firmware.

If you have enabled automatic AP firmware updates in Gateway Wireless Controller, your APs are automatically updated between midnight and 4:00 AM local time.

To manually update firmware on your APs:

1. On the Access Points tab, select one or more APs.
2. From the Actions drop-down list, click Upgrade.
3. Click Yes to confirm that you want to upgrade the AP.

Fireware v2025.1.1 Operating System Compatibility Matrix

Last reviewed: 17 September 2025

Note about Microsoft Windows support:

• Documentation might include references and examples for Windows OS versions that are no longer supported. This is provided to assist users with those OS versions, but compatibility cannot be guaranteed.

The following browsers are supported for both Fireware Web UI and WebCenter (JavaScript required):

• Microsoft Edge 116
• Firefox v117
• Safari 16 (macOS)
• Chrome v116

¹ Terminal Services support with manual or Single Sign-On authentication operates in a Microsoft Terminal Services or Citrix XenApp 6.0, 6.5, 7.6, or 7.12 environment.

² To learn more about client support for different macOS versions, go to the macOS software compatibility KB articles for macOS Catalina 10.15, macOS Big Sur 11, macOS Monterey 12, macOS Ventura 13, macOS Sonoma 14, macOS Sequoia 15, and macOS Tacoma 26.

³ Native (Cisco) IPSec client is supported for all recent versions of macOS and iOS.

⁴ OpenVPN is supported for all recent versions of Android and iOS.

⁵ StrongSwan is supported for all recent versions of Android.

⁶ In macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or higher, you must install v12.5.2 or higher of the WatchGuard Mobile VPN with SSL client.

⁷ In macOS 12 (Monterey) or higher, you must manually update the authentication settings after you install the Mobile VPN with IKEv2 client profile. For more information, go to this KB article.

⁸ Mobile VPN with IPSec NCP client for macOS (version 4.61 build 29053) supports macOS Big Sur 11 or higher only.

⁹ macOS 13 (Ventura) and higher do not accept SSL connections to untrusted self-signed certificates. For more information, go to this KB article.

¹⁰ The built-in Android OS L2TP client is supported for all Android versions except Android 12 and higher (Android 12 removed support for L2TP VPN).

¹¹ The WatchGuard Single-Sign On Agent v12.10.1 supports computers that are joined to your domain with Azure Active Directory.

¹² The WatchGuard Mobile VPN with SSL Client v12.10.4 for macOS does not support macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or lower.

¹³ The Single Sign-On Client does not support macOS 15 (Sequoia) or macOS 26 (Tahoe).

¹⁴ For IKEv2 VPNs, macOS v26 (Tahoe) and iOS v26 do not support DES, 3DES, SHA1-96, or SHA1-160 algorithms, and do not support Diffie-Hellman groups less than 14.

Authentication Support

This table provides a quick view of the types of authentication servers supported by key features of Fireware. Using an authentication server gives you the ability to configure user and group-based firewall and VPN policies in your Firebox or XTM device configuration. With each type of third-party authentication server supported, you can specify a backup server IP address for failover.

¹ Active Directory authentication methods are supported only through a RADIUS server.

² Supported with the Mobile VPN with SSL Client for Windows.

³ Port 8080 does not support SAML authentication.

System Requirements

Technical Assistance

For technical assistance, contact WatchGuard Technical Support by telephone or log in to the WatchGuard Portal at https://www.watchguard.com/wgrd-support/overview. When you contact Technical Support, you must supply your registered Product Serial Number or Partner ID.

Localization

This release includes updates to the localization for the management user interfaces (WSM application suite and Web UI) through Fireware v12.6.4. UI changes introduced since v12.6.4 might remain in English.

Supported languages are:

• French (France)
• Japanese
• Spanish (Latin American)

Note that most data input must still be made using standard ASCII characters. You can use non-ASCII characters in some areas of the UI, including:

• Proxy deny message
• Wireless hotspot title, terms and conditions, and message
• WatchGuard Server Center users, groups, and role names

Although some other Web UI and Policy Manager fields might accept Unicode characters, problems can occur if you enter non-ASCII characters in those fields.

Any data returned from the device operating system (e.g. log data) is displayed in English only. Additionally, all items in the Fireware Web UI System Status menu and any software components provided by third-party companies remain in English.

Fireware Web UI

The Web UI will launch in the language you set in your web browser by default.

WatchGuard System Manager

When you install WSM, you can choose which language packs you want to install. The language displayed in WSM will match the language you select in your Microsoft Windows environment. For example, if you use Windows 10 and want to use WSM in Japanese, go to Control Panel > Language and select Japanese as your Display Language.

Dimension, WebCenter, Quarantine Web UI, and Wireless Hotspot

These web pages automatically display in whatever language preference you set in your web browser.

Documentation

The latest version of localized Fireware Help is available from WatchGuard Help Center. In the top-right of a Fireware Help page, select your language from the drop-down list.