CVE-2026-111231
Netgate pfSense CE through 2.9.0 Authorization Bypass via config_restore() and config_install()
- State
- Published
- Severity
- 8.6 High
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 26, 2026
- Reserved
- Oct 15, 2026
Description
Netgate pfSense CE through 2.9.0 contains an authorization bypass vulnerability that allows read-only WebGUI users to replace config.xml because config_restore() and config_install() ignore the 'User - Config: Deny Config Write' privilege. Attackers holding page privileges for services_acb.php, uploadconfig.php, diag_confbak.php, or diag_backup.php can install a chosen config.xml to gain root-level code execution after reload or reboot.
Scores
| CVSS | Score | Vector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 8.6 High | CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N | VulnCheck |
| 3.1 | 7.2 High | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H | VulnCheck |
Weaknesses
- CWE-863 Incorrect Authorization
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
pfSense CENetgate |
|
References
- https://github.com/abraxas/pfsense-config-readonly-restoreexploittechnical-description
- https://abraxaslabs.tech/research/pfsense-ce-leftoverstechnical-description
- https://github.com/pfsense/pfsense/blob/9363ac5b8651a1c7a333180425ce7719070f95f9/src/etc/inc/config.lib.inc#L743-L798technical-description
- https://github.com/pfsense/pfsense/blob/9363ac5b8651a1c7a333180425ce7719070f95f9/src/etc/inc/config.lib.inc#L588-L597technical-description
- VulnCheck Advisory: Netgate pfSense CE through 2.9.0 Authorization Bypass via config_restore() and config_install()third-party-advisory
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