CVE-2026-111222: Improper Neutralization of CRLF Sequences ('CRLF Injection') in Netgate pfSense CE
Description
CVE-2026-111222 is a vulnerability in Netgate pfSense CE up to version 2.9.0 that allows authenticated users with General Setup privileges to inject php.ini directives via an unvalidated timezone value. This injection enables attackers to execute PHP code as root after system reboot or php-fpm restart by embedding a crafted auto_prepend_file directive. The vulnerability is classified as high severity with a CVSS 4.0 score of 7.5.
CVSS v4.0
Score 7.5high
Affected software
Netgate
pfSense CE
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AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
Netgate pfSense CE versions up to 2.9.0 contain a php.ini injection vulnerability due to improper neutralization of CRLF sequences in the timezone configuration. Authenticated users with General Setup privileges can submit a specially crafted timezone value containing a quote and newline characters to inject an auto_prepend_file directive pointing to /var/db/zoneinfo. This causes PHP to execute arbitrary code as root after php.ini regeneration triggered by system boot or php-fpm restart.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation allows an authenticated user with General Setup privileges to execute arbitrary PHP code with root privileges on the affected system. This can lead to full system compromise. The attack requires high privileges and user interaction but does not require user interface interaction beyond submitting the crafted timezone value.
Mitigation Recommendations
Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance. Until an official fix is available, restrict access to General Setup privileges to trusted administrators only and monitor for unusual changes to php.ini or system behavior related to PHP execution. Avoid restarting php-fpm or rebooting the system with untrusted timezone values configured.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- VulnCheck
- Date Reserved
- 2026-10-15T18:21:20.824Z
- Cvss Version
- 4.0
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6ad123be2cdf04f65652b743
Added to database: 10/15/2026, 19:04:30 UTC
Last enriched: 10/15/2026, 19:18:45 UTC
Last updated: 10/15/2026, 19:19:21 UTC
Views: 7
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