# CVE-2026-15816: Dracut: dracut: root code execution via unescaped error message written to sourced emergency hook script in die()

Status: published. Published: 2026-08-07. Updated: 2026-11-02.

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.

## Remediation

- workaround: Restrict DHCP server access on networks used for network boot (DHCP snooping, dedicated/trusted provisioning VLANs) until a fix is available. (source: CNA: redhat)

## Affected products and versions

- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 (dracut): ≥ 0:107-9.el10_2; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.0 Extended Update Support (dracut): ≥ 0:105-4.el10_0.1; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Extended Lifecycle Support  - EXTENSION (dracut): ≥ 0:004-413.el6_10; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Extended Lifecycle Support  - EXTENSION (dracut): ≥ 0:004-414.el6_10; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Extended Lifecycle Support (dracut): ≥ 0:033-577.el7_9; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (dracut): ≥ 0:049-246.git20260728.el8_10; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Advanced Mission Critical Update Support (dracut): ≥ 0:049-138.git20220131.el8_4.1; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Extended Update Support Long-Life Add-On (dracut): ≥ 0:049-138.git20220131.el8_4.1; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Advanced Mission Critical Update Support (dracut): ≥ 0:049-203.git20220511.el8_6.1; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Extended Update Support Long-Life Add-On (dracut): ≥ 0:049-203.git20220511.el8_6.1; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Telecommunications Update Service (dracut): ≥ 0:049-223.git20230119.el8_8.1; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Update Services for SAP Solutions (dracut): ≥ 0:049-223.git20230119.el8_8.1; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 (dracut): ≥ 0:057-120.git20260728.el9_8; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Update Services for SAP Solutions (dracut): ≥ 0:057-25.git20250717.el9_2.2; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4 Update Services for SAP Solutions (dracut): ≥ 0:057-54.git20250423.el9_4.3; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.6 Extended Update Support (dracut): ≥ 0:057-89.git20250311.el9_6.1; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.12 (openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-8): ≥ 412.86.202610250235-0; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.13 (openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-9): ≥ 413.92.202609080414-0; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.14 (openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-9): ≥ 414.92.202609011250-0; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.15 (openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-9): ≥ 415.92.202609140326-0; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.16 (openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-9): ≥ 416.94.202609011112-0; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.17 (openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-9): ≥ 417.94.202609191027-0; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.18 (openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-9): ≥ 418.94.202609031320-0; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.18 (openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-9): ≥ 418.94.202609171815-0; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.19 (openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-9): ≥ 4.19.9.6.202609021231-0; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.20 (openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-9): ≥ 4.20.9.6.202608260604-0; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.21 (openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-9): ≥ 4.21.9.6.202609021100-0; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.22 (openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-9): ≥ 4.22.9.8.202608251819-0; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.22 (openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-9): ≥ 4.22.9.8.202609081748-0; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Hardened Images (dracut): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 (openshift/ose-rhel-coreos-9): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat

## Severity and prioritization

- CVSS 3.1: 7.5 (high); CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H; source: CNA: redhat

- CISA KEV: No listing in collected sources

- EPSS: 0.37% as of 2026-11-01; percentile 31.04%

- SSVC: exploitation none; automatable no; technical impact total; source ADP: CISA-ADP

- Weaknesses: CWE-78

## Exploit evidence

No exploit evidence in collected sources. This is not proof of no exploitation.

## References

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:54571 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:54575 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:54576 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:57580 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:57772 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:57775 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:57785 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:60440 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:60445 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:61252 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:62269 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:62409 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:62549 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:63041 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:63044 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:65839 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:65851 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:66357 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:67857 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:69118 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:69119 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:70586 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:70615 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:74499 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:79114 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:90272 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-15816 (CNA: redhat; vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2459963 (CNA: redhat)

- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2500889 (CNA: redhat; issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://github.com/dracutdevs/dracut/blob/master/modules.d/40network/netroot.sh (CNA: redhat)

- https://github.com/dracutdevs/dracut/blob/master/modules.d/99base/dracut-lib.sh (CNA: redhat)

## Provenance

- CNA: redhat: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-15816; retrieved 2026-11-02; source updated 2026-11-02

- FIRST EPSS: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-15816; retrieved 2026-11-02; source updated Not reported

Revision: 4aee8b4d118df23fffc047a8b5ba22422add327ac86eb0d28d9124be8dc63378

Canonical: https://y2.dev/cve/CVE-2026-15816