{"id":"CVE-2026-45255","state":"PUBLISHED","title":"Remote code execution via installer Wi-Fi access point scans","description":"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.\n\nThe 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.","publishedAt":"2026-05-21T09:27:20.431Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-22T03:55:39.175Z","severity":{"score":7.5,"label":"High","version":"3.1","vector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","source":"CISA-ADP"},"assigner":"freebsd","products":["FreeBSD FreeBSD"],"affected":[{"vendor":"FreeBSD","product":"FreeBSD","defaultStatus":"unknown","versions":[{"version":"15.0-RELEASE","status":"affected","lessThan":"p9","versionType":"release"},{"version":"14.4-RELEASE","status":"affected","lessThan":"p5","versionType":"release"},{"version":"14.3-RELEASE","status":"affected","lessThan":"p14","versionType":"release"}],"modules":["bsdinstall"]}],"references":["https://security.freebsd.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-26:23.bsdinstall.asc"],"weaknesses":["CWE-78"],"ingestedAt":"2026-10-29T20:12:07.131Z","source":{"repository":"CVEProject/cvelistV5","path":"cves/2026/45xxx/CVE-2026-45255.json","commit":"556c9d3a8cd17e218bb8e452ba7cd619a384ff47"},"raw":{"dataType":"CVE_RECORD","dataVersion":"5.2","cveMetadata":{"cveId":"CVE-2026-45255","state":"PUBLISHED","datePublished":"2026-05-21T09:27:20.431Z","dateUpdated":"2026-05-22T03:55:39.175Z","assignerShortName":"freebsd","assignerOrgId":"63664ac6-956c-4cba-a5d0-f46076e16109","dateReserved":"2026-05-11T16:27:44.891Z"},"containers":{"cna":{"title":"Remote code execution via installer Wi-Fi access point scans","descriptions":[{"lang":"en","value":"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.\n\nThe 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."}],"affected":[{"vendor":"FreeBSD","product":"FreeBSD","defaultStatus":"unknown","versions":[{"version":"15.0-RELEASE","status":"affected","lessThan":"p9","versionType":"release"},{"version":"14.4-RELEASE","status":"affected","lessThan":"p5","versionType":"release"},{"version":"14.3-RELEASE","status":"affected","lessThan":"p14","versionType":"release"}],"modules":["bsdinstall"]}],"references":[{"url":"https://security.freebsd.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-26:23.bsdinstall.asc","tags":["vendor-advisory"]}],"problemTypes":[{"descriptions":[{"cweId":"CWE-78","description":"CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command","lang":"en","type":"CWE"}]}],"providerMetadata":{"shortName":"freebsd","orgId":"63664ac6-956c-4cba-a5d0-f46076e16109","dateUpdated":"2026-05-21T09:27:20.431Z"},"datePublic":"2026-05-20T23:00:00.000Z","credits":[{"lang":"en","type":"finder","value":"Austin Ralls"}],"x_generator":{"engine":"cvelib 1.8.0"}},"adp":[{"title":"CISA ADP Vulnrichment","metrics":[{"cvssV3_1":{"scope":"UNCHANGED","version":"3.1","baseScore":7.5,"attackVector":"ADJACENT_NETWORK","baseSeverity":"HIGH","vectorString":"CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","integrityImpact":"HIGH","userInteraction":"NONE","attackComplexity":"HIGH","availabilityImpact":"HIGH","privilegesRequired":"NONE","confidentialityImpact":"HIGH"}},{"other":{"type":"ssvc","content":{"timestamp":"2026-05-21T00:00:00+00:00","options":[{"Exploitation":"none"},{"Automatable":"no"},{"Technical Impact":"total"}],"role":"CISA Coordinator","version":"2.0.3","id":"CVE-2026-45255"}}}],"providerMetadata":{"shortName":"CISA-ADP","orgId":"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0","dateUpdated":"2026-05-22T03:55:39.175Z"}}]}}}