# CVE-2026-111222: Netgate pfSense CE php.ini injection via timezone

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-111222-netgate-pfsense-ce-through-2-9-0-contains-a-php-ini-injection  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-15. Updated: 2026-10-20  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-111222 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.6 · Published 2026-10-15

pfSense CE is a firewall appliance that protects networks through its web-based management interface. An authenticated administrator with General Setup privileges can inject malicious PHP configuration directives via the timezone field, allowing remote code execution as the root user when PHP-FPM restarts or the system boots. This gives attackers complete control over the firewall and all systems it protects.

Technologies: [Netgate Pfsense Ce](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/pfsense-ce), [Pfsense](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/pfsense). Vendors: [Netgate](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/netgate), [Pfsense](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pfsense).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-111222 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-111222 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-111222?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.6, published 15 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Netgate Pfsense Ce through 2.9.0.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-111222?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-111222 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-111222?** Check whether you run Netgate Pfsense Ce or Pfsense at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

The vulnerability is a php.ini injection flaw in pfSense CE's General Setup timezone configuration. An authenticated user with appropriate privileges can embed a quote character and newline in the timezone value to inject auto_prepend_file directives pointing to /var/db/zoneinfo, causing arbitrary PHP code execution as root after the php.ini file is regenerated at boot or php-fpm restart. Authentication and privilege level are required; no network-based unauthenticated attack exists.

## Affected products

- Netgate pfSense CE through 2.9.0

## Timeline

- 2026-10-15: disclosed

## References

- [https://github.com/](https://github.com/)
- [https://abraxaslabs.tech/research/pfsense-ce-leftovers](https://abraxaslabs.tech/research/pfsense-ce-leftovers)

## Related threats

- [Netgate pfSense CE reflected XSS in firewall_rules.php](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-111233-netgate-pfsense-ce-2-7-1-through-2-9-0-contains-a-reflected)
- [Netgate pfSense CE stored cross-site scripting in firewall rules](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-111232-netgate-pfsense-ce-2-3-0-through-2-9-0-contains-a-stored-cross)
- [Netgate pfSense CE authorization bypass in config restore](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-111231-netgate-pfsense-ce-through-2-9-0-contains-an-authorization)
- [Netgate pfSense CE local file read via Dynamic DNS](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-111230-netgate-pfsense-ce-through-2-9-0-contains-a-local-file-read)
- [pfSense CE command injection in captive portal HA sync](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-111229-pfsense-ce-2-7-0-through-2-9-0-contains-a-command-injection)