pfSense REST API package Vulnerable to Privilege Escalation via Scoped HA Settings Sync Permission

MITRE NVD CVE.ORG JSON API

Summary

CVECVE-2026-113779
StatePUBLISHED
AssignerGitHub_M
Source PriorityCVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback
Published2026-10-21 15:17:16 UTC
Updated2026-10-21 16:17:26 UTC
DescriptionThe pfSense REST API package is an unofficial, open-source REST and GraphQL API for pfSense CE and pfSense Plus firewalls. A privilege escalation vulnerability in pfSense-pkg-RESTAPI prior to version 2.9.0 allows authenticated accounts holding the dedicated settings sync permission to modify REST API configuration secrets. This enables a non-administrative user to elevate their privileges to a full administrator. pfSense-pkg-RESTAPI 2.9.0 patches the issue. Access to the HA settings sync endpoint now strictly requires full administrative privileges (`page-all`). The sub-administrative sync privilege has been removed in versions v2.9.0 and later. In addition to correcting the access control boundary, version 2.9.0 includes the following hardening measures: opt-in default and format and validation modernization. As a workaround, one may mitigate exposure by taking either or all of the following steps. Revoke Scoped Permissions: Remove the `api-v2-system-restapi-settings-sync-post` privilege from all non-administrative users. Apply ACLs: Configure REST API Access Control Lists (ACLs) and/or firewall rules to restrict access to API endpoints exclusively to trusted administrator and HA peer IP addresses.

Risk And Classification

Primary CVSS: v3.1 8.8 HIGH from [email protected]

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Problem Types: CWE-502 | CWE-502 CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data

VersionSourceTypeScoreSeverityVector
3.1[email protected]Secondary8.8HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
3.1CNADECLARED8.8HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS v3.1 Breakdown

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Vendor Declared Affected Products

SourceVendorProductVersionPlatforms
CNA Pfrest PfSense-pkg-RESTAPI affected < 2.9.0 Not specified

References

ReferenceSourceLinkTags
github.com/pfrest/pfSense-pkg-RESTAPI/security/advisories/GHSA-8q8g-9f77... [email protected] github.com
github.com/pfrest/pfSense-pkg-RESTAPI/releases/tag/v2.9.0 [email protected] github.com
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