Adjacent-network root execution via unescaped DHCP options
Published Jul 21, 2026 · Updated Jul 21, 2026
Command injection in dracut on affected Red Hat platforms allows remote attackers on an adjacent network to execute code as root during boot. The NetworkManager initrd module's nm-run.sh copies DHCP-derived root-path, next-server, and bootfile values into a temporary dhcpopts file without shell-safe quoting, and network-root handling later sources that file as shell code. Exploitation requires an initramfs containing the NetworkManager module, a DHCP-derived network root, and an attacker-controlled DHCP server on the boot host's network segment.
Summary
What happened
Command injection in dracut on affected Red Hat platforms allows remote attackers on an adjacent network to execute code as root during boot. The NetworkManager initrd module's nm-run.sh copies DHCP-derived root-path, next-server, and bootfile values into a temporary dhcpopts file without shell-safe quoting, and network-root handling later sources that file as shell code. Exploitation requires an initramfs containing the NetworkManager module, a DHCP-derived network root, and an attacker-controlled DHCP server on the boot host's network segment.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-16445
- Published
- Jul 21, 2026
- Updated
- Jul 21, 2026
- Vendor
- 389 Directory Server
- Product
- Red Hat Hardened Images
- Classifications
- CWE-78, T1557.003
- Attack vector
- adjacent
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 21, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jul 21, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Affected versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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