---
id: CVE-2026-16445
title: A flaw was found in dracut
summary: >-
  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 Ne…
severity: high
cvss: 7.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-78
vendor: Red Hat
product: dracut
affected:
  - dracut (all versions)
  - dracut (all versions)
  - dracut (all versions)
  - dracut (all versions)
  - dracut (all versions)
  - dracut (all versions)
  - dracut (all versions)
  - dracut-main (all versions)
  - dracut
  - dracut
  - dracut
  - dracut
  - dracut (all versions)
published: '2026-07-21'
updated: '2026-09-21'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-21T04:17:22.410'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-16445'
references:
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26534'
    label: secalert@redhat.com
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:40700'
    label: secalert@redhat.com
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:61252'
    label: secalert@redhat.com
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:69118'
    label: secalert@redhat.com
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:69119'
    label: secalert@redhat.com
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-16445'
    label: secalert@redhat.com
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2459963'
    label: secalert@redhat.com
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2503147'
    label: secalert@redhat.com
  - url: 'https://github.com/dracutdevs/dracut/commit/e509c638e6'
    label: secalert@redhat.com
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-16445.json
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-16445'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-16445'
tags:
  - nvd
  - cve.org
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2026-07-22T17:58:44.376796Z'
epss: 0.01117
epssPercentile: 0.64675
ingestedAt: '2026-08-31T05:03:01.503Z'
patched:
  - enterprise_linux_baseos_v_8
  - enterprise_linux_baseos_aus_v_8_4
  - enterprise_linux_baseos_eus_extension_v_8_4
  - enterprise_linux_baseos_aus_v_8_6
  - enterprise_linux_baseos_eus_extension_v_8_6
  - enterprise_linux_baseos_e4s_v_8_8
  - enterprise_linux_baseos_tus_v_8_8
  - hardened_images
---

## Overview

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.

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.

## Vendor advisories

- **RHSA-2026:26534** · Red Hat · fixed in: Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) · released 2026-06-17 · [advisory](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26534)
- **RHSA-2026:69118** · Red Hat · fixed in: Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.4), Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.4) · released 2026-09-21 · [advisory](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:69118)
- **RHSA-2026:69119** · Red Hat · fixed in: Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.6), Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS EXTENSION (v.8.6) · released 2026-09-21 · [advisory](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:69119)
- **RHSA-2026:61252** · Red Hat · fixed in: Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.8), Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.8) · released 2026-08-31 · [advisory](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:61252)
- **RHSA-2026:40700** · Red Hat · fixed in: Red Hat Hardened Images · released 2026-07-16 · [advisory](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:40700)
- **Red Hat VEX** · Important · affected: Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · no fix planned: Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · updated 2026-09-21 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-16445.json)