CVE-2026-45255: Remote code execution via installer Wi-Fi access point scans

Published May 21, 2026
·
Updated

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.

Affected Software

31 affected components
bsdinstall
bsdconfig
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.3
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.3-p1
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.3-p10
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.3-p11
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.3-p12
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.3-p13
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.3-p2
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.3-p3
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.3-p4
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.3-p5
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.3-p6
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.3-p7
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.3-p8
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.3-p9
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.4
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.4-p1
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.4-p2
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.4-p3
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.4-p4
FreeBSD FreeBSD=14.4-rc1
FreeBSD FreeBSD=15.0
FreeBSD FreeBSD=15.0-p1
FreeBSD FreeBSD=15.0-p2
FreeBSD FreeBSD=15.0-p3
FreeBSD FreeBSD=15.0-p4
FreeBSD FreeBSD=15.0-p5
FreeBSD FreeBSD=15.0-p6
FreeBSD FreeBSD=15.0-p7
FreeBSD FreeBSD=15.0-p8

Event History

May 21, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·09:27 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·09:27 AM
DescriptionWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·10:16 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-45255?

CVE-2026-45255 has a high severity rating of 7.5 on the CVSS scale.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-45255?

To fix CVE-2026-45255, update to the latest version of FreeBSD that addresses this vulnerability.

3

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-45255?

CVE-2026-45255 is categorized as an OS Command Injection vulnerability.

4

What systems are affected by CVE-2026-45255?

CVE-2026-45255 affects FreeBSD systems utilizing bsdinstall and bsdconfig.

5

What is the potential impact of CVE-2026-45255?

The potential impact of CVE-2026-45255 includes remote code execution on affected systems.

Contact

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