CVE-2021-41282Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated command execution via injected sed directives

Published Mar 1, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Command injection in Netgate pfSense CE 2.5.2 and pfSense Plus 21.05.2 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute shell commands. The diag_routes.php filter parameter is embedded inside a sed program after shell escaping, so sed directives such as substitution and file-write commands remain executable. Access to the WebCfg Diagnostics Routing tables page is sufficient; crafted output can write a web shell and run commands with root privileges.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability87.11%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in Netgate pfSense CE 2.5.2 and pfSense Plus 21.05.2 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute shell commands. The diag_routes.php filter parameter is embedded inside a sed program after shell escaping, so sed directives such as substitution and file-write commands remain executable. Access to the WebCfg Diagnostics Routing tables page is sufficient; crafted output can write a web shell and run commands with root privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-41282
Published
Mar 1, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-74, T1190, T1059.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 1, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.0NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-74Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application
T1059.004Unix Shell

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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