CVE-2026-111222
HIGH 7.5Netgate pfSense CE through 2.9.0 contains a php.ini injection vulnerability that allows authenticated users with General Setup privileges to inject directives by submitting an unvalidated timezone value. Attackers can embed a quote and newline to add auto_prepend_file pointing at /var/db/zoneinfo, executing PHP as root after php.ini is regenerated at boot or php-fpm restart.
Severe if exploited (CVSS 7.5), but no known exploitation and low modeled probability. Patch on a normal cadence.
Exploitation likelihood
1.0%chance of exploitation in 30 days · 61st percentile
Impact if exploited
7.5CVSS 4.0 · HIGH
- ConfidentialityHigh
- IntegrityHigh
- AvailabilityHigh
What an attacker needs
- ✓Access: Reachable over the network — no local access needed
- ⚠Privileges: Requires an admin / high-privilege account
- ✓User interaction: No user interaction needed
- ⚠Complexity: Needs a race window or specific setup
- ⚠Requirements: Specific conditions must be present
✓ lowers the bar for an attacker · ⚠ raises it
Proof of concept
No public PoC is currently catalogued.
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Data snapshot:
Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-93: Improper Neutralization of CRLF Sequences ('CRLF Injection')
CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
References and research data (JSON)
Known Affected Software Configurations
| Vendor | Product | Version range |
|---|---|---|
| Pfsense | Pfsense | ≤ 2.9.0 |
All CVSS metrics
- HIGH 7.5 v4.0 · CNA Primary
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - MEDIUM 6.6 v3.1 · CNA Primary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - HIGH 7.5 v4.0 · NVD Secondary
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X - MEDIUM 6.6 v3.1 · NVD Secondary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - HIGH 7.2 v3.1 · NVD Primary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
Exploit-tagged references (not proof of a PoC)
- https://github.com/abraxas/pfsense-timezone-phpini CVE record · VulnCheck · Updated 2026-10-15T18:46:23.081Z
NVD · CVE-2026-111222 · Updated 2026-10-21T01:17:20.287
Advisories
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/netgate-pfsense-ce-through-2.9.0-php-ini-injection-via-timezone-setting CVE record · VulnCheck · Updated 2026-10-15T18:46:23.081Z
NVD · CVE-2026-111222 · Updated 2026-10-21T01:17:20.287 - https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/EUVD-2026-102334 EUVD · EUVD-2026-102334
Technical & other
- https://abraxaslabs.tech/research/pfsense-ce-leftovers CVE record · VulnCheck · Updated 2026-10-15T18:46:23.081Z
NVD · CVE-2026-111222 · Updated 2026-10-21T01:17:20.287 - https://github.com/pfsense/pfsense/blob/9363ac5b8651a1c7a333180425ce7719070f95f9/src/usr/local/www/system.php#L288 CVE record · VulnCheck · Updated 2026-10-15T18:46:23.081Z
NVD · CVE-2026-111222 · Updated 2026-10-21T01:17:20.287 - https://github.com/pfsense/pfsense/blob/9363ac5b8651a1c7a333180425ce7719070f95f9/src/etc/inc/system.inc#L2377-L2380 CVE record · VulnCheck · Updated 2026-10-15T18:46:23.081Z
NVD · CVE-2026-111222 · Updated 2026-10-21T01:17:20.287 - https://github.com/pfsense/pfsense/blob/9363ac5b8651a1c7a333180425ce7719070f95f9/src/etc/rc.php_ini_setup#L163-L166 CVE record · VulnCheck · Updated 2026-10-15T18:46:23.081Z
NVD · CVE-2026-111222 · Updated 2026-10-21T01:17:20.287 - https://github.com/pfsense/pfsense/blob/9363ac5b8651a1c7a333180425ce7719070f95f9/src/etc/rc.php_ini_setup#L220 CVE record · VulnCheck · Updated 2026-10-15T18:46:23.081Z
NVD · CVE-2026-111222 · Updated 2026-10-21T01:17:20.287