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No exploitation reportedFix availableAwaiting NVD analysis

CVE-2026-16445

Dracut: dracut: root code execution via dhcp options command injection in networkmanager initrd module

No exploitation reported by the sources we read.

  • Published2026-07-21
  • WeaknessCWE-78

Am I affected?

With a domain, we read the version its public headers and pages expose. A distribution build can carry the fix under an older number.

Description

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.

Timeline

dates in UTC
  1. 2026-07-2112:51CVE publishedCNA

Versions per branch

Products declared by the CNA14 products

As redhat, the CNA that assigned this CVE, declared them in the CVE record; versions as written.

8 more products in the CVE record.

Source: the CNA record (CVE Program), © The MITRE Corporation,CVE Terms of UseCVE recordupdated 2026-11-04

Distribution builds and vendor advisories

Packages from OSV.dev and products from the vendors' CSAF advisories.

version not verifiedVersions not verified: read as OSV.dev and the vendors publish them, not checked against each vendor's release list.

Packages

  • dracutUbuntu:Pro:22.04:LTSall versions · fixed in 051-1ubuntu0.1~esm1
  • dracutUbuntu:Pro:20.04:LTSall versions · fixed in 048+80-2ubuntu0.1~esm1
  • dracutUbuntu:Pro:18.04:LTSall versions · fixed in 047-2ubuntu0.1~esm1
  • dracutUbuntu:Pro:16.04:LTSall versions · fixed in 044+3-3ubuntu0.1~esm1
  • dracutUbuntu:26.04:LTSall versions · fixed in 110-11ubuntu0.1
  • dracutUbuntu:24.04:LTSall versions · fixed in 060+5-1ubuntu3.4
  • dracutSUSE:Linux Micro 6.2all versions · fixed in 059+suse.730.g73d3411aa-160000.1.1
  • dracutSUSE:Linux Micro 6.1all versions · fixed in 059+suse.649.g0274006-slfo.1.1_1.1

34 more package ranges on OSV.dev

Vendor advisories

  • CVE-2026-16445 Red Hat Product Security108 products fixed

    dracut: dracut: Root code execution via DHCP options command injection in NetworkManager initrd module

  • RHSA-2026:90272 Red Hat Product Security1 product fixed

    Red Hat Security Advisory: OpenShift Container Platform 4.12.102 bug fix and security update

  • RHSA-2026:69118 Red Hat Product Security22 products fixed

    Red Hat Security Advisory: dracut security update

  • RHSA-2026:69119 Red Hat Product Security22 products fixed

    Red Hat Security Advisory: dracut security update

  • RHSA-2026:61252 Red Hat Product Security5 products fixed

    Red Hat Security Advisory: dracut security update

  • RHSA-2026:40700 Red Hat Product Security17 products fixed

    Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat Hardened Images RPMs bug fix and enhancement update

1 more advisory

Full record on NVD

Fix

  1. Vendor fix Red Hat Product Security RHSA-2026:90272 · 1 productFor OpenShift Container Platform 4.12 see the following documentation, which will be updated shortly for this release, for important instructions on how to upgrade your cluster and fully apply this asynchronous errata update: https://docs.redhat.com/en/documentation/openshift_container_platform/4.…
  2. Vendor fix Red Hat Product Security RHSA-2026:69118 · 22 productsFor details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://access.redhat.com/articles/11258
  3. Vendor fix Red Hat Product Security CVE-2026-16445 · 17 productsFor details on how to apply this update, which includes the changes described in this advisory, refer to: https://images.redhat.com/
  4. Workaround from the vendor Red Hat Product Security RHSA-2026:90272 · 1 productAvoid 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>:<pat…

Detection

Nuclei template
none so far
ProjectDiscovery
Exploit-DB
no entry
Exploit-DB
Proof of concept
Metasploit modules
none listed
Metasploit Framework

Sources

Identifiers

Technical details

CVSS v3 Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Published
2026-07-21
Last Modified
2026-11-04
NVD status
Awaiting Analysis
GitHub Advisory
GHSA-4672-282m-8fgr

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-16445?

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.

Is CVE-2026-16445 actively exploited?

Active exploitation of CVE-2026-16445 has not been confirmed. Its EPSS score was 3.2% on 2026-11-08, the estimated probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-16445?

CVE-2026-16445 has a CVSS v3 base score of 7.5 (HIGH severity), with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

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