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.
References
| Link | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://security.freebsd.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-26:23.bsdinstall.asc | Vendor Advisory |
Configurations
Configuration 1 (hide)
|
History
21 May 2026, 19:00
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| First Time |
Freebsd
Freebsd freebsd |
|
| References | () https://security.freebsd.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-26:23.bsdinstall.asc - Vendor Advisory | |
| CPE | cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p5:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p6:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p7:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:-:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p4:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p4:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p3:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p2:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p9:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p7:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p6:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p2:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.4:-:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p8:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.4:p3:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.4:p4:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.4:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p13:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p5:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p8:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p11:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p1:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p3:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p10:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.4:p2:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p1:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.4:p1:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p12:*:*:*:*:*:* |
21 May 2026, 15:16
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| CVSS |
v2 : v3 : |
v2 : unknown
v3 : 7.5 |
21 May 2026, 10:16
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| New CVE |
Information
Published : 2026-05-21 10:16
Updated : 2026-05-21 19:00
NVD link : CVE-2026-45255
Mitre link : CVE-2026-45255
CVE.ORG link : CVE-2026-45255
JSON object : View
Products Affected
freebsd
- freebsd
CWE
CWE-78
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')