Dracut: dracut: root code execution via unescaped error message written to sourced emergency hook script in die()
Summary
| CVE | CVE-2026-15816 |
|---|---|
| State | PUBLISHED |
| Assigner | redhat |
| Source Priority | CVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback |
| Published | 2026-08-07 11:17:05 UTC |
| Updated | 2026-09-02 02:17:19 UTC |
| Description | A flaw was found in dracut. The die() error-handling function writes its message into a shell script under the initramfs emergency-hook directory without properly shell-quoting it. When the message contains data derived from the DHCP ROOT_PATH option, an attacker on the adjacent network who controls a rogue DHCP server can inject a command-substitution sequence that executes as root the next time dracut sources its emergency hook scripts during standard boot-failure handling. |
Risk And Classification
Primary CVSS: v3.1 7.5 HIGH from [email protected]
CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS: 0.003040000 probability, percentile 0.225820000 (date 2026-09-01)
Problem Types: CWE-78 | CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
| Version | Source | Type | Score | Severity | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | [email protected] | Secondary | 7.5 | HIGH | CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| 3.1 | CNA | CVSS | 7.5 | HIGH | CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
CVSS v3.1 Breakdown
Attack Vector
AdjacentAttack Complexity
HighPrivileges Required
NoneUser Interaction
NoneScope
UnchangedConfidentiality
HighIntegrity
HighAvailability
HighCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vendor Declared Affected Products
| Source | Vendor | Product | Version | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | unaffected 0:107-9.el10_2 * rpm | Not specified |
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.0 Extended Update Support | unaffected 0:105-4.el10_0.1 * rpm | Not specified |
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Extended Lifecycle Support | unaffected 0:033-577.el7_9 * rpm | Not specified |
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | unaffected 0:049-246.git20260728.el8_10 * rpm | Not specified |
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Telecommunications Update Service | unaffected 0:049-223.git20230119.el8_8.1 * rpm | Not specified |
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Update Services For SAP Solutions | unaffected 0:049-223.git20230119.el8_8.1 * rpm | Not specified |
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | unaffected 0:057-120.git20260728.el9_8 * rpm | Not specified |
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | unaffected 0:057-120.git20260728.el9_8 * rpm | Not specified |
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Update Services For SAP Solutions | unaffected 0:057-25.git20250717.el9_2.2 * rpm | Not specified |
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4 Update Services For SAP Solutions | unaffected 0:057-54.git20250423.el9_4.3 * rpm | Not specified |
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.6 Extended Update Support | unaffected 0:057-89.git20250311.el9_6.1 * rpm | Not specified |
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.20 | unaffected 4.20.9.6.202608260604-0 * rpm | Not specified |
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.22 | unaffected 4.22.9.8.202608251819-0 * rpm | Not specified |
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Not specified | Not specified |
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat Hardened Images | Not specified | Not specified |
| CNA | Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Not specified | Not specified |
References
| Reference | Source | Link | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:54575 | [email protected] | access.redhat.com | |
| github.com/dracutdevs/dracut/blob/master/modules.d/99base/dracut-lib.sh | [email protected] | github.com | |
| bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi | [email protected] | bugzilla.redhat.com | |
| access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:57775 | [email protected] | access.redhat.com | |
| access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:54576 | [email protected] | access.redhat.com | |
| access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:61252 | [email protected] | access.redhat.com | |
| access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:60445 | [email protected] | access.redhat.com | |
| github.com/dracutdevs/dracut/blob/master/modules.d/40network/netroot.sh | [email protected] | github.com | |
| access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:57772 | [email protected] | access.redhat.com | |
| access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:54571 | [email protected] | access.redhat.com | |
| access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:57785 | [email protected] | access.redhat.com | |
| access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:57580 | [email protected] | access.redhat.com | |
| access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:60440 | [email protected] | access.redhat.com | |
| access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-15816 | [email protected] | access.redhat.com | |
| bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi | [email protected] | bugzilla.redhat.com | |
| access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:62269 | [email protected] | access.redhat.com | |
| CVE Program record | CVE.ORG | www.cve.org | canonical |
| NVD vulnerability detail | NVD | nvd.nist.gov | canonical, analysis |
Vendor Comments And Credit
Discovery Credit
CNA: This issue was discovered by Pavel Valena (Red Hat). (en)
Additional Advisory Data
| Source | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| CNA | 2026-06-10T19:21:21.000Z | Reported to Red Hat. |
| CNA | 2026-08-05T23:59:00.000Z | Made public. |
Workarounds
CNA: Restrict DHCP server access on networks used for network boot (DHCP snooping, dedicated/trusted provisioning VLANs) until a fix is available.
There are currently no legacy QID mappings associated with this CVE.