OS command injection in Netgate pfSense CE OpenVPN script
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Attack requirements
- Present
- 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) in the OpenVPN openvpn.connect_async.sh script. Authenticated VPN users whose accounts are checked through RADIUS or LDAP can supply usernames with single quotes and shell metacharacters that break out of an eval'd pfctl anchor name, letting them run commands as root. An exploit link is listed in the references.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Description from the CNA
pfSense CE through 2.9.0 contains an OS command injection vulnerability in the OpenVPN openvpn.connect_async.sh script that allows authenticated VPN users to execute commands as root via crafted usernames. Attackers authenticated through RADIUS or LDAP can use usernames containing single quotes and shell metacharacters to break out of the eval'd pfctl anchor name on connect or disconnect.
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 pfSense CE.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Timeline
- 2026-10-16 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-111224
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-16 Priority changed: MEDIUM → HIGH
References
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