CVE-2026-46728Public exploit

Boot image replacement via unsigned hashed-nodes property

Published May 16, 2026 · Updated May 16, 2026

Signature verification bypass in U-Boot before 2026.04 allows local users to boot attacker-selected code from a modified signed FIT. fit_config_check_sig trusts the unsigned hashed-nodes property to choose which FIT nodes are hashed, so an attacker can exclude a replaced image while preserving a valid signature. Exploitation requires read/write access to the FIT storage and signed-FIT secure boot; the payload runs with the original image's privileges, potentially compromising the kernel or higher firmware layers.

CVSS severity8.2
High
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Signature verification bypass in U-Boot before 2026.04 allows local users to boot attacker-selected code from a modified signed FIT. fit_config_check_sig trusts the unsigned hashed-nodes property to choose which FIT nodes are hashed, so an attacker can exclude a replaced image while preserving a valid signature. Exploitation requires read/write access to the FIT storage and signed-FIT secure boot; the payload runs with the original image's privileges, potentially compromising the kernel or higher firmware layers.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-46728
Published
May 16, 2026
Updated
May 16, 2026
Vendor
DENX Software Engineering GmbH
Product
U-Boot
Classifications
CWE-346, T1542.003
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 16, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 16, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <2026.04

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

DENX Software Engineering GmbH · U-Bootversion=0 <2026.04

Published CVSS scores

8.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.2MITRECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-346Origin Validation Error
T1542.003Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Bootkit

Public exploit references

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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