CVE-2026-45255

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. 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.

CVSS v3.1 Score

7.5

HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0027

Probability of exploitation

0.19%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-78 OS Command Injection

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All
freebsd	freebsd	All

References

Advisories & Patches

https://security.freebsd.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-26:23.bsdinstall.asc

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-45255? +

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. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2026-45255? +

CVE-2026-45255 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.5 out of 10, rated HIGH. This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for patching. The EPSS score is 0.0027, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-45255? +

CVE-2026-45255 affects products from freebsd, specifically: freebsd. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-45255? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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