CVE-2025-69691Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Admin-only root code execution via XMLRPC PHP method

Published May 8, 2026 · Updated May 8, 2026

Code execution in the XMLRPC API in Netgate pfSense CE 2.8.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute PHP code as root. The pfsense.exec_php handler executes the supplied PHP string without validation, sandboxing, or command restrictions. Reachability requires administrative XMLRPC credentials; Netgate disputes the issue because administrators are intentionally permitted to execute PHP code.

CVSS severity9.9
Critical
EPSS probability0.68%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Code execution in the XMLRPC API in Netgate pfSense CE 2.8.0 allows remote authenticated users to execute PHP code as root. The pfsense.exec_php handler executes the supplied PHP string without validation, sandboxing, or command restrictions. Reachability requires administrative XMLRPC credentials; Netgate disputes the issue because administrators are intentionally permitted to execute PHP code.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-69691
Published
May 8, 2026
Updated
May 8, 2026
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-284, T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 8, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 8, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

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

9.9National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-284Improper Access Control
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

Public exploit references

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

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo