CVE-2026-45255 (GCVE-0-2026-45255)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-05-21 09:27 – Updated: 2026-05-22 03:55
VLAI
Title
Remote code execution via installer Wi-Fi access point scans
Summary
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.
Severity
7.5 (High)
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
SSVC
Exploitation: none Automatable: no Technical Impact: total
CISA Coordinator (v2.0.3)
CWE
  • CWE-78 - Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command
Assigner
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version
FreeBSD FreeBSD Affected: 15.0-RELEASE , < p9 (release)
Affected: 14.4-RELEASE , < p5 (release)
Affected: 14.3-RELEASE , < p14 (release)
Create a notification for this product.
Date Public
2026-05-20 23:00
Credits
Austin Ralls
Show details on NVD website
To clipboard 

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "metrics": [
          {
            "cvssV3_1": {
              "attackComplexity": "HIGH",
              "attackVector": "ADJACENT_NETWORK",
              "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
              "baseScore": 7.5,
              "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
              "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
              "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
              "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
              "scope": "UNCHANGED",
              "userInteraction": "NONE",
              "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
              "version": "3.1"
            }
          },
          {
            "other": {
              "content": {
                "id": "CVE-2026-45255",
                "options": [
                  {
                    "Exploitation": "none"
                  },
                  {
                    "Automatable": "no"
                  },
                  {
                    "Technical Impact": "total"
                  }
                ],
                "role": "CISA Coordinator",
                "timestamp": "2026-05-21T00:00:00+00:00",
                "version": "2.0.3"
              },
              "type": "ssvc"
            }
          }
        ],
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2026-05-22T03:55:39.175Z",
          "orgId": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
          "shortName": "CISA-ADP"
        },
        "title": "CISA ADP Vulnrichment"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "defaultStatus": "unknown",
          "modules": [
            "bsdinstall"
          ],
          "product": "FreeBSD",
          "vendor": "FreeBSD",
          "versions": [
            {
              "lessThan": "p9",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "15.0-RELEASE",
              "versionType": "release"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "p5",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "14.4-RELEASE",
              "versionType": "release"
            },
            {
              "lessThan": "p14",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "14.3-RELEASE",
              "versionType": "release"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "credits": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "type": "finder",
          "value": "Austin Ralls"
        }
      ],
      "datePublic": "2026-05-20T23:00:00.000Z",
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "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.\n\nThe 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."
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "cweId": "CWE-78",
              "description": "CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "CWE"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-05-21T09:27:20.431Z",
        "orgId": "63664ac6-956c-4cba-a5d0-f46076e16109",
        "shortName": "freebsd"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "tags": [
            "vendor-advisory"
          ],
          "url": "https://security.freebsd.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-26:23.bsdinstall.asc"
        }
      ],
      "title": "Remote code execution via installer Wi-Fi access point scans",
      "x_generator": {
        "engine": "cvelib 1.8.0"
      }
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "63664ac6-956c-4cba-a5d0-f46076e16109",
    "assignerShortName": "freebsd",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-45255",
    "datePublished": "2026-05-21T09:27:20.431Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-05-11T16:27:44.891Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-05-22T03:55:39.175Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.2",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "epss": {
      "cve": "CVE-2026-45255",
      "date": "2026-08-05",
      "epss": "0.00305",
      "percentile": "0.22742"
    },
    "nvd": "{\"cve\":{\"id\":\"CVE-2026-45255\",\"sourceIdentifier\":\"secteam@freebsd.org\",\"published\":\"2026-05-21T10:16:26.497\",\"lastModified\":\"2026-07-23T16:10:00.137\",\"vulnStatus\":\"Analyzed\",\"cveTags\":[],\"descriptions\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"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.\\n\\nThe 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.\"},{\"lang\":\"es\",\"value\":\"Cuando se solicita a bsdinstall o bsdconfig que escaneen redes Wi-Fi cercanas, construyen una lista de nombres de red y usan bsddialog(1) para solicitar al usuario que seleccione una red. Esto se implementa usando un script de shell, y el c\u00f3digo que manejaba los nombres de red no tuvo cuidado de evitar la expansi\u00f3n por parte del shell. Como resultado, un nombre de red adecuadamente elaborado puede usarse para ejecutar comandos a trav\u00e9s de un subshell.\\n\\nEl problema puede ser explotado para ejecutar c\u00f3digo como root en el sistema que ejecuta bsdinstall o bsdconfig. El atacante necesitar\u00eda crear un punto de acceso con un nombre especialmente elaborado y estar dentro del alcance de un escaneo Wi-Fi. Tenga en cuenta que bsdinstall y bsdconfig son vulnerables tan pronto como el usuario les solicita que escaneen redes cercanas; no necesitan seleccionar realmente la red maliciosa.\"}],\"affected\":[{\"source\":\"secteam@freebsd.org\",\"affectedData\":[{\"vendor\":\"FreeBSD\",\"product\":\"FreeBSD\",\"defaultStatus\":\"unknown\",\"modules\":[\"bsdinstall\"],\"versions\":[{\"version\":\"15.0-RELEASE\",\"lessThan\":\"p9\",\"versionType\":\"release\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"14.4-RELEASE\",\"lessThan\":\"p5\",\"versionType\":\"release\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"14.3-RELEASE\",\"lessThan\":\"p14\",\"versionType\":\"release\",\"status\":\"affected\"}]}]}],\"metrics\":{\"cvssMetricV31\":[{\"source\":\"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0\",\"type\":\"Secondary\",\"cvssData\":{\"version\":\"3.1\",\"vectorString\":\"CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H\",\"baseScore\":7.5,\"baseSeverity\":\"HIGH\",\"attackVector\":\"ADJACENT_NETWORK\",\"attackComplexity\":\"HIGH\",\"privilegesRequired\":\"NONE\",\"userInteraction\":\"NONE\",\"scope\":\"UNCHANGED\",\"confidentialityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"integrityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"availabilityImpact\":\"HIGH\"},\"exploitabilityScore\":1.6,\"impactScore\":5.9}],\"ssvcV203\":[{\"source\":\"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0\",\"ssvcData\":{\"timestamp\":\"2026-05-21T00:00:00+00:00\",\"id\":\"CVE-2026-45255\",\"options\":[{\"exploitation\":\"none\"},{\"automatable\":\"no\"},{\"technicalImpact\":\"total\"}],\"role\":\"CISA Coordinator\",\"version\":\"2.0.3\"}}]},\"weaknesses\":[{\"source\":\"secteam@freebsd.org\",\"type\":\"Secondary\",\"description\":[{\"lang\":\"en\",\"value\":\"CWE-78\"}]}],\"configurations\":[{\"nodes\":[{\"operator\":\"OR\",\"negate\":false,\"cpeMatch\":[{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:-:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"9DC7C54E-58AF-4ADE-84AF-0EF0F325E20E\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p1:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"D3D22B8C-36CF-4800-9673-0B0240558BDD\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p10:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"7296F5AA-F8C1-4277-A4EE-C2B24073A320\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p11:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"C30E4A9C-0594-4F40-92B3-26CB9AA85AE9\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p12:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"9F83F91B-587A-433C-99DB-0D63E267FF16\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p13:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"44B9C2FC-756E-459F-8E68-C2C2B8C258AC\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p2:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"242FA2A8-5D7D-4617-A411-2651FF3A3E4C\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p3:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"40573F60-F3B7-4AEC-846A-B08E5B7D9D00\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p4:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"1FB832CE-0A98-44A2-8BAC-CD38A64279B6\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p5:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"9A785F8E-C218-41AE-8D57-BF06DDAEF7CB\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p6:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"C3909FDD-B2A2-45B6-A40B-1D303A717F15\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p7:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"720597A2-F181-46E1-8A0D-097E17ADC4FB\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p8:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"DC8A75D0-148A-427A-9783-45477EABED21\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p9:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"F5D39FC9-6DBA-46C8-BB80-A6188E6A8527\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.4:-:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"8F3856BE-666F-4FA1-A6AD-FE179CEBF1E4\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.4:p1:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"D9CC0037-3282-42C3-80D8-F6C1D43B9332\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.4:p2:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"1EADA828-3C20-43C0-A0CA-3AC7D7F23DBD\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.4:p3:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"53D73FD2-4B06-47D3-BA2A-4363E9DE3565\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.4:p4:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"D726890B-E679-43A9-A211-D5C05BBE3941\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.4:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"0342A715-E211-4AF6-97ED-32EB9EBB947D\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"368CFE5D-C5C2-42AF-AAF4-28DFE1A59C3B\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p1:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"AA4AAA57-70A7-4717-ACF2-A253E757FF2C\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p2:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"E24ABFA6-4D12-4DE5-832B-438502C7D188\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p3:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"C1C9869C-494B-4628-9AA3-4AA5B989C377\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p4:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"002AA2FE-C7BA-471A-9434-0E56A878ACBF\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p5:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"B187670D-E3A2-4A0D-A653-982F8B447E78\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p6:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"047E7EE9-FB51-4CF2-A8BE-484BFD819565\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p7:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"2C9768AE-9954-4B2A-9525-D7D4942406E7\"},{\"vulnerable\":true,\"criteria\":\"cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p8:*:*:*:*:*:*\",\"matchCriteriaId\":\"F8B9EF55-3755-452A-B067-043803099B22\"}]}]}],\"references\":[{\"url\":\"https://security.freebsd.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-26:23.bsdinstall.asc\",\"source\":\"secteam@freebsd.org\",\"tags\":[\"Vendor Advisory\"]}]}}",
    "redhat_vex": {
      "current_release_date": "2026-06-05T19:47:36+00:00",
      "cve": "CVE-2026-45255",
      "id": "CVE-2026-45255",
      "initial_release_date": "2026-05-20T23:00:00+00:00",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "1",
      "source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "Remote code execution via installer Wi-Fi access point scans",
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-45255.json",
      "version": "3"
    },
    "vulnrichment": {
      "containers": "{\"adp\": [{\"title\": \"CISA ADP Vulnrichment\", \"metrics\": [{\"cvssV3_1\": {\"scope\": \"UNCHANGED\", \"version\": \"3.1\", \"baseScore\": 7.5, \"attackVector\": \"ADJACENT_NETWORK\", \"baseSeverity\": \"HIGH\", \"vectorString\": \"CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H\", \"integrityImpact\": \"HIGH\", \"userInteraction\": \"NONE\", \"attackComplexity\": \"HIGH\", \"availabilityImpact\": \"HIGH\", \"privilegesRequired\": \"NONE\", \"confidentialityImpact\": \"HIGH\"}}, {\"other\": {\"type\": \"ssvc\", \"content\": {\"id\": \"CVE-2026-45255\", \"role\": \"CISA Coordinator\", \"options\": [{\"Exploitation\": \"none\"}, {\"Automatable\": \"no\"}, {\"Technical Impact\": \"total\"}], \"version\": \"2.0.3\", \"timestamp\": \"2026-05-21T14:26:59.012942Z\"}}}], \"providerMetadata\": {\"orgId\": \"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0\", \"shortName\": \"CISA-ADP\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2026-05-21T13:30:39.255Z\"}}], \"cna\": {\"title\": \"Remote code execution via installer Wi-Fi access point scans\", \"credits\": [{\"lang\": \"en\", \"type\": \"finder\", \"value\": \"Austin Ralls\"}], \"affected\": [{\"vendor\": \"FreeBSD\", \"modules\": [\"bsdinstall\"], \"product\": \"FreeBSD\", \"versions\": [{\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"15.0-RELEASE\", \"lessThan\": \"p9\", \"versionType\": \"release\"}, {\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"14.4-RELEASE\", \"lessThan\": \"p5\", \"versionType\": \"release\"}, {\"status\": \"affected\", \"version\": \"14.3-RELEASE\", \"lessThan\": \"p14\", \"versionType\": \"release\"}], \"defaultStatus\": \"unknown\"}], \"datePublic\": \"2026-05-20T23:00:00.000Z\", \"references\": [{\"url\": \"https://security.freebsd.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-26:23.bsdinstall.asc\", \"tags\": [\"vendor-advisory\"]}], \"x_generator\": {\"engine\": \"cvelib 1.8.0\"}, \"descriptions\": [{\"lang\": \"en\", \"value\": \"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.\\n\\nThe 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.\"}], \"problemTypes\": [{\"descriptions\": [{\"lang\": \"en\", \"type\": \"CWE\", \"cweId\": \"CWE-78\", \"description\": \"CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command\"}]}], \"providerMetadata\": {\"orgId\": \"63664ac6-956c-4cba-a5d0-f46076e16109\", \"shortName\": \"freebsd\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2026-05-21T09:27:20.431Z\"}}}",
      "cveMetadata": "{\"cveId\": \"CVE-2026-45255\", \"state\": \"PUBLISHED\", \"dateUpdated\": \"2026-05-22T03:55:39.175Z\", \"dateReserved\": \"2026-05-11T16:27:44.891Z\", \"assignerOrgId\": \"63664ac6-956c-4cba-a5d0-f46076e16109\", \"datePublished\": \"2026-05-21T09:27:20.431Z\", \"assignerShortName\": \"freebsd\"}",
      "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
      "dataVersion": "5.2"
    }
  }
}



Log in or create an account to share your comment.




Tags
Taxonomy of the tags.





Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

Author Source Type Date Other

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.


Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.