FreeBSD bsdinstall/bsdconfig Shell Command Injection via WiFi SSID
CVE-2026-45255 Published on May 21, 2026
Remote code execution via installer Wi-Fi access point scans
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.
Vulnerability Analysis
Weakness Type
What is a Shell injection Vulnerability?
The software constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component.
CVE-2026-45255 has been classified to as a Shell injection vulnerability or weakness.
Products Associated with CVE-2026-45255
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Affected Versions
FreeBSD:- Version 15.0-RELEASE and below p9 is affected.
- Version 14.4-RELEASE and below p5 is affected.
- Version 14.3-RELEASE and below p14 is affected.