CVE-2011-4197

CVE-2011-4197 is a high-severity vulnerability in Pfsense with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-264.

Key facts

Description

etc/inc/certs.inc in the PKI implementation in pfSense before 2.0.1 creates each X.509 certificate with a true value for the CA basic constraint, which allows remote attackers to create sub-certificates for arbitrary subjects by leveraging the private key.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2011-4197?
etc/inc/certs.inc in the PKI implementation in pfSense before 2.0.1 creates each X.509 certificate with a true value for the CA basic constraint, which allows remote attackers to create sub-certificates for arbitrary subjects by leveraging the private key.
How severe is CVE-2011-4197?
CVE-2011-4197 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5, rated high severity.
Is CVE-2011-4197 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (78th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2011-4197?
CVE-2011-4197 primarily affects Pfsense. In total, 5 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2011-4197?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2011-4197 published?
CVE-2011-4197 was published on 2012-01-03 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (5)

More vulnerabilities in Pfsense

All CVEs affecting Pfsense →

Other CWE-264 (Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls) vulnerabilities

Browse all CWE-264 (Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls) vulnerabilities →