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.

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required High

Attack Requirements None

User Interaction None

Vulnerable System Confidentiality Impact High

Vulnerable System Integrity Impact High

Vulnerable System Availability Impact High

Subsequent System Confidentiality Impact None

Subsequent System Integrity Impact None

Subsequent System Availability Impact None

Attack Vector Network

Attack Complexity Low

Privileges Required High

Scope Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact High

Integrity Impact High

Availability Impact High

User Interaction None

No CVSS v3.0

No CVSS v2

This CVE is not in the KEV list.

The EPSS score is 0.0092.

Key SSVC decision points have not yet been added.

Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).

Vendor Product Default status Versions
Netgate pfSense CE unaffected
Version Status Constraints
0 affected ≤ 2.9.0

No data.

No data.

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Project Subscriptions

Vendors Products
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Pfsense Subscribe
Advisories

No advisories yet.

Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.

Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

References
Link Providers
https://abraxaslabs.tech/research/pfsense-ce-leftovers cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/abraxas/pfsense-config-readonly-restore cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/pfsense/pfsense/blob/9363ac5b8651a1c7a333180425ce7719070f95f9/src/etc/inc/config.lib.inc#L588-L597 cve-icon cve-icon
https://github.com/pfsense/pfsense/blob/9363ac5b8651a1c7a333180425ce7719070f95f9/src/etc/inc/config.lib.inc#L743-L798 cve-icon cve-icon
https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/netgate-pfsense-ce-through-2.9.0-authorization-bypass-via-config-restore-and-config-install cve-icon cve-icon
History

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
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.
Title Netgate pfSense CE through 2.9.0 Authorization Bypass via config_restore() and config_install()
First Time appeared Netgate
Netgate pfsense
Weaknesses CWE-863
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:netgate:pfsense:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Netgate
Netgate pfsense
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.2, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

cvssV4_0

{'score': 8.6, 'vector': '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'}

Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: VulnCheck

Published:

Updated: 2026-10-15T18:46:31.461Z

Reserved: 2026-10-15T18:21:23.999Z

Link: CVE-2026-111231

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2026-10-15T19:17:36.110

Modified: 2026-10-15T21:05:32.823

Link: CVE-2026-111231

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-10-16T17:15:14Z

Weaknesses