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FreeBSD : FreeBSD -- Remote code execution via installer Wi-Fi access point scans (039c0ab0-54b7-11f1-8d7a-bc241121aa0a)

high Nessus Plugin ID 315998

Synopsis

The remote FreeBSD host is missing one or more security-related updates.

Description

The version of FreeBSD installed on the remote host is prior to tested version. It is, therefore, affected by a vulnerability as referenced in the 039c0ab0-54b7-11f1-8d7a-bc241121aa0a advisory.

 When bsdinstall or bsdconfig are prompted to scan for nearby Wi-Fi networks, they build up a list of network names and use bsddialog(1) to prompt the user to select a network. This is implemented using a shell script, and the code which handled network names was not careful to prevent expansion by the shell. As a result, a suitably crafted network name can be used to execute commands via a subshell.
 The problem can be exploited to execute code as root on the system running bsdinstall or bsdconfig. The attacker would need to create an access point with a specially crafted name and be within range of a Wi-Fi scan. Note that bsdinstall and bsdconfig are vulnerable as soon as the user prompts them to scan for nearby networks; they do not need to actually select the malicious network.

Tenable has extracted the preceding description block directly from the FreeBSD security advisory.

Note that Nessus has not tested for this issue but has instead relied only on the application's self-reported version number.

Solution

Update the affected packages.

See Also

http://www.nessus.org/u?43a9eefc

Plugin Details

Severity: High

ID: 315998

File Name: freebsd_pkg_039c0ab054b711f18d7abc241121aa0a.nasl

Version: 1.1

Type: Local

Published: 5/21/2026

Updated: 5/21/2026

Configuration: Enable paranoid mode

Supported Sensors: Nessus

Risk Information

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 8.3

Temporal Score: 6.1

Vector: CVSS2#AV:A/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS Score Source: CVE-2026-45255

CVSS v3

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 8.8

Temporal Score: 7.7

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Temporal Vector: CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C

Vulnerability Information

CPE: cpe:/o:freebsd:freebsd

Required KB Items: Host/local_checks_enabled, Settings/ParanoidReport, Host/FreeBSD/release, Host/FreeBSD/pkg_info

Exploit Ease: No known exploits are available

Patch Publication Date: 5/21/2026

Vulnerability Publication Date: 5/21/2026

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2026-45255