CVE-2023-29973Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Firewall account proliferation via unthrottled user creation

Published Oct 24, 2023 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Improper rate limiting in pfSense CE 2.6.0 allows remote authenticated users to create numerous firewall user accounts. The system_usermanager.php add-user workflow accepts repeated intercepted submissions without throttling the account-creation operation. Administrator access is required to reach the workflow; replaying a valid request creates multiple credentialed accounts and alters firewall account state.

CVSS severity4.9
Medium
EPSS probability1.63%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper rate limiting in pfSense CE 2.6.0 allows remote authenticated users to create numerous firewall user accounts. The system_usermanager.php add-user workflow accepts repeated intercepted submissions without throttling the account-creation operation. Administrator access is required to reach the workflow; replaying a valid request creates multiple credentialed accounts and alters firewall account state.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-29973
Published
Oct 24, 2023
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-770, T1136.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 24, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 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 privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

4.9NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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.

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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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-770Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling
T1136.001Create Account: Local Account

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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