CVE-2026-111224
HIGH 7.7pfSense CE through 2.9.0 contains an OS command injection vulnerability in the OpenVPN openvpn.connect_async.sh script that allows authenticated VPN users to execute commands as root via crafted usernames. Attackers authenticated through RADIUS or LDAP can use usernames containing single quotes and shell metacharacters to break out of the eval'd pfctl anchor name on connect or disconnect.
Severe if exploited (CVSS 7.7), but no known exploitation and low modeled probability. Patch on a normal cadence.
Exploitation likelihood
5.4%chance of exploitation in 30 days · 93rd percentile
Impact if exploited
7.7CVSS 4.0 · HIGH
- ConfidentialityHigh
- IntegrityHigh
- AvailabilityHigh
What an attacker needs
- ✓Access: Reachable over the network — no local access needed
- ⚠Privileges: Requires a low-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-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
CVSS vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
References and research data (JSON)
All CVSS metrics
- HIGH 7.7 v4.0 · CNA Primary
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - HIGH 7.5 v3.1 · CNA Primary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - HIGH 7.7 v4.0 · NVD Secondary
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/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 - HIGH 7.5 v3.1 · NVD Secondary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
Exploit-tagged references (not proof of a PoC)
- https://github.com/abraxas/pfsense-ovpn-connect-eval CVE record · VulnCheck · Updated 2026-10-15T18:46:24.410Z
NVD · CVE-2026-111224 · Updated 2026-10-16T18:17:36.877
Advisories
- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/netgate-pfsense-ce-through-2.9.0-os-command-injection-via-openvpn-connect-async-sh CVE record · VulnCheck · Updated 2026-10-15T18:46:24.410Z
NVD · CVE-2026-111224 · Updated 2026-10-16T18:17:36.877 - https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/EUVD-2026-102336 EUVD · EUVD-2026-102336
Technical & other
- https://abraxaslabs.tech/research/pfsense-ce-leftovers CVE record · VulnCheck · Updated 2026-10-15T18:46:24.410Z
NVD · CVE-2026-111224 · Updated 2026-10-16T18:17:36.877 - https://github.com/pfsense/pfsense/blob/9363ac5b8651a1c7a333180425ce7719070f95f9/src/usr/local/sbin/openvpn.connect_async.sh#L83-L114 CVE record · VulnCheck · Updated 2026-10-15T18:46:24.410Z
NVD · CVE-2026-111224 · Updated 2026-10-16T18:17:36.877