Root command execution via unsanitized metadata commands
Published Mar 23, 2026 · Updated Mar 23, 2026
Command injection in DigitalOcean Droplet Agent 1.3.2 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute commands as root. The troubleshooting actioner strips the command prefix from metadata entries and passes the remaining content into the command execution flow without adequate validation. Exploitation requires control of metadata responses and a specially sequenced TCP packet to the SSH port; successful commands run with the agent's root privileges.
Summary
What happened
Command injection in DigitalOcean Droplet Agent 1.3.2 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute commands as root. The troubleshooting actioner strips the command prefix from metadata entries and passes the remaining content into the command execution flow without adequate validation. Exploitation requires control of metadata responses and a specially sequenced TCP packet to the SSH port; successful commands run with the agent's root privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-24516
- Published
- Mar 23, 2026
- Updated
- Mar 23, 2026
- Vendor
- Unknown vendor
- Product
- Unknown product
- Classifications
- CWE-94, CWE-77, T1059
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Mar 23, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 23, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.
Is a vulnerable build present?
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- CVE-2026-24516 DigitalOcean RCE proof of conceptproof of concept · unverified
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
Check the software in your environment
Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.
Book a demo