CVE-2026-45255 | 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.

Published: 2026-05-21 Last update: 2026-05-21 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]
NVD Status：Analyzed，CVE State: published
View at NVD, CVE.org, EUVD

CVE-2026-45255 is rated Low Risk (32.8/100): CVSS High severity, with low exploitation likelihood (EPSS 0.03%). Monitor for updates and reassess as exploit intelligence or EPSS changes.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2026-45255

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2026-05-21 — 0.03% —

Full EPSS history (1 record total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2026-45255

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
7.5 3.1 HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:A)
Attacker has to be nearby on the network—same office, same link, that vibe—not the whole wide internet.
Attack complexity (AC:H)
Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H)
Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H)
They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.
 1.6 5.9 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2026-45255

GitHub Security Advisory for CVE-2026-45255

GHSA-qj4f-cpgw-vqx9 · Severity: high — When bsdinstall or bsdconfig are prompted to scan for nearby Wi-Fi networks, they build up a list...

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2026-45255

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
freebsd freebsd 14.3 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.3 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p1:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.3 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p10:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.3 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p11:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.3 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p12:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.3 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p13:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.3 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p2:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.3 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p3:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.3 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p4:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.3 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p5:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.3 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p6:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.3 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p7:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.3 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p8:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.3 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.3:p9:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.4 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.4:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.4 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.4:p1:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.4 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.4:p2:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.4 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.4:p3:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.4 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.4:p4:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 14.4 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:14.4:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 15.0 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 15.0 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p1:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 15.0 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p2:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 15.0 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p3:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 15.0 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p4:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 15.0 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p5:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 15.0 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p6:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 15.0 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p7:*:*:*:*:*:*
freebsd freebsd 15.0 cpe:2.3:o:freebsd:freebsd:15.0:p8:*:*:*:*:*:*

References for CVE-2026-45255

cvelogic Threat Intelligence