# CVE-2022-26019: Path traversal in pfSense CE and pfSense Plus

> Remote attackers with NTP GPS settings access can rewrite files via path traversal, leading to arbitrary command execution on pfSense firewalls.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 31 Mar 2022
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-q5q3-h939-p643

## What is CVE-2022-26019?

CVE-2022-26019 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in pfSense CE and pfSense Plus, published on 31 Mar 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Improper access control vulnerability in pfSense CE and pfSense Plus (pfSense CE software versions prior to 2.6.0 and pfSense Plus software versions prior to 22.01) allows a remote attacker with the privilege to change NTP GPS settings to rewrite existing files on the file system, which may result in arbitrary command execution.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-26019?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Netgate Pfsense, Netgate Pfsense Plus.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-26019?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-26019 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2022-26019 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-26019 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in pfSense CE and pfSense Plus

- [CVE-2019-16915](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16915/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-21487](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-21487/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (critical 9.6)
- [CVE-2024-46538](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-46538/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2023-48123](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-48123/): Command injection in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-42326](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-42326/): Command injection in n/a (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-26019 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-26019 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in pfSense CE and pfSense Plus, published on 31 Mar 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-26019 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: pfSense CE and pfSense Plus. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-26019/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-26019/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-26019
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-26019
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-26019

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-26019/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.