CVE-2026-16445 PUBLISHED

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

Assigner: redhat
Reserved: 21.07.2026 Published: 21.07.2026 Updated: 21.07.2026

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.

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 8
Versions Default: affected
  • unaffected from 0:049-244.git20260529.el8_10 to * (excl.)
Vendor Red Hat
Product Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
Versions Default: unaffected
Vendor Red Hat
Product Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Versions Default: unaffected
Vendor Red Hat
Product Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Versions Default: unaffected
Vendor Red Hat
Product Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Versions Default: unaffected
Vendor Red Hat
Product Red Hat Hardened Images
Versions Default: affected
Vendor Red Hat
Product Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
Versions Default: affected

Workarounds

Escape DHCP-derived values (root-path, next-server, dhcp-bootfile) with shell-safe quoting (for example printf '%q') before writing them to the generated dhcpopts file in modules.d/35network-manager/nm-run.sh. This approach is already used in dracut-057 and later, and is already present in the RHEL 8.10.z dracut-049-244.git20260529.el8_10 build.

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