CVE-2026-45255
As a result, a suitably crafted network name can be used to execute commands via a subshell.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (0.30%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
When bsdinstall or bsdconfig are prompted to scan for nearby Wi-Fi networks, they build up a list of network names and use bsddialog(1) to prompt the user to select a network. This is implemented using a shell script, and the code which handled network names was not careful to prevent expansion by the shell. As a result, a suitably crafted network name can be used to execute commands via a subshell. The problem can be exploited to execute code as root on the system running bsdinstall or bsdconfig. The attacker would need to create an access point with a specially crafted name and be within range of a Wi-Fi scan. Note that bsdinstall and bsdconfig are vulnerable as soon as the user prompts them to scan for nearby networks; they do not need to actually select the malicious network.
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 0.30% probability · 23th percentile
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-78
- Affected
- freebsd/freebsd
- Source
- secteam@freebsd.org
References
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA. Refreshed daily.