CVE-2018-4020 Command injection in Netgate pfSense

High 7.2 Published 3 Dec 2018 Updated 16 Sep 2024

Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary commands via the powerd_ac_mode parameter in the pfSense administration interface.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: An administrator
Attackable: Over the internet
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2018-4020?

CVE-2018-4020 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Netgate pfSense, published on 3 Dec 2018. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

Official description

An exploitable command injection vulnerability exists in the way Netgate pfSense CE 2.4.4-RELEASE processes the parameters of a specific POST request. The attacker can exploit this and gain the ability to execute arbitrary commands on the system. An attacker needs to be able to send authenticated POST requests to the administration web interface. Command injection is possible in the `powerd_ac_mode` POST parameter parameter.

Weakness: CWE-78

Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-4020?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Netgate Pfsense.

How do I fix CVE-2018-4020?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-4020 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade, and pass arguments to programs as a list instead of through a shell. More about Command injection.

Is CVE-2018-4020 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-4020 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Sources

Also known as GHSA-7fj2-qj5r-2prf.