OS command injection in Netgate pfSense CE via CARP VHID
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-78.
Summary
Netgate pfSense CE through 2.9.0 contains an OS command injection flaw (CWE-78) because the CARP VHID value is stored without validation. An authenticated user with Virtual IP edit privileges can supply a VHID containing shell metacharacters and run commands as root. A public exploit is linked in the references.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Description from the CNA
Netgate pfSense CE through 2.9.0 contains an OS command injection vulnerability that allows authenticated users with Virtual IP edit privileges to execute commands as root by storing an unvalidated CARP VHID. Attackers can supply a VHID containing shell metacharacters that executes via interface_ipalias_configure() ifconfig calls or get_carp_interface_status() when CARP status is rendered.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
The sources list no fixed version for Netgate pfSense CE.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Timeline
- 2026-10-16 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-111217
- 2026-10-21 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-21 Priority changed: MEDIUM → HIGH
References
Exploit 2
Other 4
- https://abraxaslabs.tech/research/pfsense-ce-leftovers
- https://github.com/pfsense/pfsense/blob/9363ac5b8651a1c7a333180425ce7719070f95f9/src/usr/local/pfSense/include/www/firewall_virtual_ip.inc#L200
- https://github.com/pfsense/pfsense/blob/9363ac5b8651a1c7a333180425ce7719070f95f9/src/etc/inc/interfaces.inc#L3236-L3238
- https://github.com/pfsense/pfsense/blob/9363ac5b8651a1c7a333180425ce7719070f95f9/src/etc/inc/pfsense-utils.inc#L794
More Netgate vulnerabilities
- TI-2022-13704 pfSense pfBlockerNG through 2.1.4_26 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary OS… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2023-12003 A command injection vulnerability in the function restore_rrddata() of Netgate pfSense… CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2024-31010 A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in pfsense v2.5.2 allows attackers to execute… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.3
- TI-2023-11923 Improper restriction of excessive authentication attempts in the SSHGuard component of… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2023-26046 An issue in Netgate pfSense Plus v.23.05.1 and before and pfSense CE v.2.7.0 allows a… CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2023-22567 An issue in Netgate pfSense v.2.7.0 allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code… CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences