CVE-2026-45255

Root command execution via shell-expanded Wi-Fi names

Published May 21, 2026 · Updated May 21, 2026

OS command injection in FreeBSD 14.3-RELEASE before p14, 14.4-RELEASE before p5, and 15.0-RELEASE before p9 allows attackers to execute as root. The bsdinstall and bsdconfig Wi-Fi scan scripts pass discovered network names into a bsddialog command path without preventing shell expansion, so a crafted name invokes a subshell. Exploitation requires a nearby malicious access point and begins when an operator starts a scan; selecting the malicious network is unnecessary.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

OS command injection in FreeBSD 14.3-RELEASE before p14, 14.4-RELEASE before p5, and 15.0-RELEASE before p9 allows attackers to execute as root. The bsdinstall and bsdconfig Wi-Fi scan scripts pass discovered network names into a bsddialog command path without preventing shell expansion, so a crafted name invokes a subshell. Exploitation requires a nearby malicious access point and begins when an operator starts a scan; selecting the malicious network is unnecessary.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-45255
Published
May 21, 2026
Updated
May 21, 2026
Vendor
The FreeBSD Project
Product
FreeBSD
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059.004
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 21, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 21, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=14.3-RELEASE <p14
  2. Affected versionversion=14.4-RELEASE <p5
  3. Affected versionversion=15.0-RELEASE <p9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The FreeBSD Project · FreeBSDversion=14.3-RELEASE <p14; version=14.4-RELEASE <p5; version=15.0-RELEASE <p9

Published CVSS scores

7.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/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)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059.004Unix Shell

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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