CVE-2026-16493

Arbitrary command execution via crafted Git source

Published Jul 21, 2026 · Updated Jul 21, 2026

Argument injection in Red Hat ansible-core allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands through a crafted collection Git source URI. The _extract_collection_from_git() function passes the untrusted URL to git clone without an end-of-options separator, so Git parses embedded configuration flags. Exploitation requires a local user to run ansible-galaxy collection install with the malicious source, and commands run with that user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Argument injection in Red Hat ansible-core allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands through a crafted collection Git source URI. The _extract_collection_from_git() function passes the untrusted URL to git clone without an end-of-options separator, so Git parses embedded configuration flags. Exploitation requires a local user to run ansible-galaxy collection install with the malicious source, and commands run with that user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-16493
Published
Jul 21, 2026
Updated
Jul 21, 2026
Vendor
389 Directory Server
Product
Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform
Classifications
CWE-88, T1059.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 21, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

389 Directory Server · Red Hat Ansible Automation PlatformAffected versions are unavailable in this record.
389 Directory Server · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10Affected versions are unavailable in this record.
389 Directory Server · Red Hat SatelliteAffected versions are unavailable in this record.
389 Directory Server · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9Affected versions are unavailable in this record.
389 Directory Server · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8Affected versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.8Red Hat, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-88Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command ('Argument Injection')
T1059.004Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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