CVE-2026-15816 PUBLISHED

Dracut: dracut: root code execution via unescaped error message written to sourced emergency hook script in die()

Assigner: redhat
Reserved: 15.07.2026 Published: 07.08.2026 Updated: 07.08.2026

A flaw was found in dracut. The die() error-handling function writes its message into a shell script under the initramfs emergency-hook directory without properly shell-quoting it. When the message contains data derived from the DHCP ROOT_PATH option, an attacker on the adjacent network who controls a rogue DHCP server can inject a command-substitution sequence that executes as root the next time dracut sources its emergency hook scripts during standard boot-failure handling.

Metrics

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS Score: 7.5

Product Status

Vendor Red Hat
Product Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
Versions Default: affected
Vendor Red Hat
Product Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Versions Default: unknown
Vendor Red Hat
Product Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Versions Default: affected
Vendor Red Hat
Product Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Versions Default: affected
Vendor Red Hat
Product Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Versions Default: affected
Vendor Red Hat
Product Red Hat Hardened Images
Versions Default: unaffected
Vendor Red Hat
Product Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
Versions Default: affected

Workarounds

Restrict DHCP server access on networks used for network boot (DHCP snooping, dedicated/trusted provisioning VLANs) until a fix is available.

Credits

  • This issue was discovered by Pavel Valena (Red Hat).

References

Problem Types

  • Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') CWE