LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2018-4021: An exploitable command injection vulnerability exists in the way Netgate pfSense CE 2.4.4-RELEASE processes...

An exploitable command injection vulnerability exists in the way Netgate pfSense CE 2.4.4-RELEASE processes the parameters of a specific POST request. The attacker can exploit this and gain the ability to execute arbitrary commands on the system. An attacker needs to be able to send authenticated POST requests to the administration web interface. Command injection is possible in the `powerd_battery_mode` POST parameter.

HighCVSS 7.2Not KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's Takehigh

Analyst readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2018-4021 is a high-impact command injection flaw in Netgate pfSense CE 2.4.4-RELEASE. An attacker must already be authenticated to the admin web interface, but successful exploitation can run arbitrary system commands and compromise the firewall appliance.

Executive priority

Treat this as high priority for any affected firewall because compromise could affect network security enforcement. Urgency depends heavily on whether the admin interface is exposed and how tightly privileged accounts are controlled.

Technical view

The issue is command injection in processing a specific authenticated POST request to the pfSense administration web interface. The vulnerable input named in the source is the `powerd_battery_mode` POST parameter. CVSS v3.0 is 7.2 with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Netgate pfSense CE 2.4.4-RELEASE systems where attackers can authenticate to the administration web interface. Internet-reachable admin portals or weak admin credential controls raise practical risk. The source bundle does not identify other affected versions.

Exploitation context

The sources describe exploitability by authenticated POST requests, but this CVE is not marked KEV in the provided bundle. No cited source in the bundle establishes active exploitation in the wild.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports authenticated command injection with high privileges required. CVSS vector is AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. No CWE is listed in the provided bundle, and no fixed version is stated there.

Mitigation direction

  • Identify and prioritize any pfSense CE 2.4.4-RELEASE appliances.
  • Check Netgate guidance for supported remediation or upgrade direction.
  • Restrict admin web interface access to trusted management networks only.
  • Review admin account access and remove unnecessary privileged users.
  • Enable stronger authentication controls where supported.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether any appliance runs pfSense CE 2.4.4-RELEASE.
  • Verify the admin web interface is not exposed to untrusted networks.
  • Review administrative access logs for unusual authenticated activity.
  • Check change history for unexpected power management setting changes.
  • Document compensating controls if immediate remediation is unavailable.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
3

Public sources used

Based on public source material and reviewed before publication.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

description · low confidence lookup

Execution behavior lookup

The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2018-4021 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.2 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.2CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.25.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

7.2High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2018-4021Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
NetgateNetgate pfSenseNetgate pfSense CE 2.4.4-RELEASEListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.