High · CVSS 8.8CVE-2026-113779

pfSense REST API package Vulnerable to Privilege Escalation via Scoped HA Settings Sync PermissionCVE-2026-113779

Answer in brief

CVE-2026-113779 records a High severity (CVSS 8.8) vulnerability in pfSense REST API package Vulnerable to Privilege Escalation via Scoped HA Settings Sync Permission. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps pfrest/pfSense-pkg-RESTAPI (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Analysis pending evidence review

HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.

Published Oct 21, 2026Updated Oct 21, 2026Source checked Oct 21, 2026First seen by HOL Oct 21, 2026Material review Oct 21, 2026

Upstream Advisory

Key facts

Risk: High · CVSS 8.8
Exploitation: Not marked as known exploited
Affected software: 1 mapped package or product
Fix availability: Available

Why this deserves its current priority

CVSS is 8.8. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps pfrest/pfSense-pkg-RESTAPI (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
pfrest/pfSense-pkg-RESTAPIgeneric	<2.9.0	2.9.0

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for pfrest/pfSense-pkg-RESTAPI.
Review the reported fix. Update pfrest/pfSense-pkg-RESTAPI to 2.9.0 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Oct 21, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Oct 21, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Oct 21, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Upstream source description

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.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.