pfrest pfSense-pkg-RESTAPI up to 2.8.x HA Settings Sync privileges management

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as very critical has been identified in pfrest pfSense-pkg-RESTAPI up to 2.8.x. This affects an unknown function of the component HA Settings Sync. Executing a manipulation can lead to privileges management. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2026-113779. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as very critical was found in pfrest pfSense-pkg-RESTAPI up to 2.8.x. This vulnerability affects an unknown code block of the component HA Settings Sync. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-269. The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

The 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.

The advisory is shared for download at github.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-113779 since 10/20/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 10/21/2026). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1068.

Upgrading to version 2.9.0 eliminates this vulnerability.

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Firewall Software

Vendor

• pfrest

Name

• pfSense-pkg-RESTAPI

Version

• 2.0
• 2.1
• 2.2
• 2.3
• 2.4
• 2.5
• 2.6
• 2.7
• 2.8

Website

• Product: https://github.com/pfrest/pfSense-pkg-RESTAPI/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Discussion