{"dataType":"CVE_RECORD","dataVersion":"5.2","cveMetadata":{"cveId":"CVE-2026-16445","assignerOrgId":"53f830b8-0a3f-465b-8143-3b8a9948e749","state":"PUBLISHED","assignerShortName":"redhat","dateReserved":"2026-07-21T08:23:53.560Z","datePublished":"2026-07-21T12:51:08.650Z","dateUpdated":"2026-08-18T13:50:52.340Z"},"containers":{"cna":{"title":"Dracut: dracut: root code execution via dhcp options command injection in networkmanager initrd module","metrics":[{"other":{"content":{"value":"Important","namespace":"https://access.redhat.com/security/updates/classification/"},"type":"Red Hat severity rating"}},{"cvssV3_1":{"attackComplexity":"HIGH","attackVector":"ADJACENT_NETWORK","availabilityImpact":"HIGH","baseScore":7.5,"baseSeverity":"HIGH","confidentialityImpact":"HIGH","integrityImpact":"HIGH","privilegesRequired":"NONE","scope":"UNCHANGED","userInteraction":"NONE","vectorString":"CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","version":"3.1"},"format":"CVSS"}],"descriptions":[{"lang":"en","value":"A flaw was found in dracut. A remote attacker on the adjacent network can exploit this vulnerability by providing specially crafted DHCP options, such as a malicious root-path, next-server, or bootfile name, to a system using dracut's NetworkManager-based initrd network module. These options are improperly handled and written into a temporary shell script without proper escaping, leading to command injection. This allows the attacker to achieve root code execution within the initramfs during system boot."}],"affected":[{"vendor":"Red Hat","product":"Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8","collectionURL":"https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/","packageName":"dracut","defaultStatus":"affected","versions":[{"version":"0:049-244.git20260529.el8_10","lessThan":"*","versionType":"rpm","status":"unaffected"}],"cpes":["cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos"]},{"vendor":"Red Hat","product":"Red Hat Hardened Images","collectionURL":"https://catalog.redhat.com/software/containers/","packageName":"dracut-main","defaultStatus":"affected","versions":[{"version":"109-7.hum1","lessThan":"*","versionType":"rpm","status":"unaffected"}],"cpes":["cpe:/a:redhat:hummingbird:1"]},{"vendor":"Red Hat","product":"Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10","collectionURL":"https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/","packageName":"dracut","defaultStatus":"unaffected","cpes":["cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10"]},{"vendor":"Red Hat","product":"Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6","collectionURL":"https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/","packageName":"dracut","defaultStatus":"unaffected","cpes":["cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6"]},{"vendor":"Red Hat","product":"Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7","collectionURL":"https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/","packageName":"dracut","defaultStatus":"unaffected","cpes":["cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7"]},{"vendor":"Red Hat","product":"Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9","collectionURL":"https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/","packageName":"dracut","defaultStatus":"unaffected","cpes":["cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9"]},{"vendor":"Red Hat","product":"Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4","collectionURL":"https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/","packageName":"dracut","defaultStatus":"affected","cpes":["cpe:/a:redhat:openshift:4"]}],"references":[{"url":"https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26534","name":"RHSA-2026:26534","tags":["vendor-advisory","x_refsource_REDHAT"]},{"url":"https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:40700","name":"RHSA-2026:40700","tags":["vendor-advisory","x_refsource_REDHAT"]},{"url":"https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-16445","tags":["vdb-entry","x_refsource_REDHAT"]},{"url":"https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2459963"},{"url":"https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2503147","name":"RHBZ#2503147","tags":["issue-tracking","x_refsource_REDHAT"]},{"url":"https://github.com/dracutdevs/dracut/commit/e509c638e6"}],"datePublic":"2026-07-21T00:00:00.000Z","problemTypes":[{"descriptions":[{"cweId":"CWE-78","description":"Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')","lang":"en","type":"CWE"}]}],"x_redhatCweChain":"CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')","workarounds":[{"lang":"en","value":"Avoid using the root=dhcp/netroot=dhcp/root=dhcp6/netroot=dhcp6 kernel command-line options — these cause dracut to trust the DHCP server's root-path option to determine the boot target. Configuring the netroot target explicitly on the kernel/PXE command line instead (e.g. netroot=nfs:<server>:<path> or netroot=iscsi:... with a literal value)."}],"timeline":[{"lang":"en","time":"2026-05-29T00:00:00.000Z","value":"Reported to Red Hat."},{"lang":"en","time":"2026-07-21T00:00:00.000Z","value":"Made public."}],"credits":[{"lang":"en","value":"This issue was discovered by Pavel Valena (Red Hat)."}],"providerMetadata":{"orgId":"53f830b8-0a3f-465b-8143-3b8a9948e749","shortName":"redhat","dateUpdated":"2026-08-18T13:50:52.340Z"},"x_generator":{"engine":"cvelib 1.8.0"}},"adp":[{"metrics":[{"other":{"type":"ssvc","content":{"timestamp":"2026-07-22T17:58:44.376796Z","id":"CVE-2026-16445","options":[{"Exploitation":"none"},{"Automatable":"no"},{"Technical Impact":"total"}],"role":"CISA Coordinator","version":"2.0.3"}}}],"title":"CISA ADP Vulnrichment","providerMetadata":{"orgId":"134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0","shortName":"CISA-ADP","dateUpdated":"2026-07-22T18:00:32.326Z"}}]}}