Skip to main content

USN-8828-1: dracut vulnerabilities

It was discovered that dracut created initramfs images with overly permissive permissions under certain circumstances. A local attacker could possibly use this issue to obtain sensitive information. This issue only affected Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. (CVE-2016-8637) It was discovered that dracut did not properly sanitize DHCP options before writing them to shell scripts under certain circumstances. A remote attacker controlling a DHCP server on the local network could possibly use this issue to execute arbitrary code as root during system boot. This issue only affected Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, and Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. (CVE-2026-6893) It was discovered that dracut did not properly quote error messages written to shell scripts under certain circumstances. A remote attacker controlling a DHCP server on the local network could possibly use this issue to execute arbitrary code as root during system boot. This issue only affected Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, and Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. (CVE-2026-15816) It was discovered that dracut did not properly sanitize network configuration data before writing it to a temporary shell script under certain circumstances. A remote attacker controlling DHCP on the local network could possibly use this issue to execute arbitrary code as root during system boot. This issue only affected Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. (CVE-2026-16445)

About

Kenya Education Network CERT(KENET-CERT) is a Cybersecurity Emergency Response Team and Co-ordination Center operated by the National Research and Education Network of Kenya. KENET-CERT coordination center promotes awareness on cybersecurity incidences as well as coordinates and assists member institutions in responding effectively to cyber security threats and incidences. KENET-CERT works closely with Kenya's National CIRT coordination center (CIRT/CC) as a sector CIRT for the academic institutions. KENET promotes use of ICT in Teaching, Learning and Research in Higher Education Institutions in Kenya. KENET aims to interconnect all the Universities, Tertiary and Research Institutions in Kenya by setting up a cost effective and sustainable private network with high speed access to the global Internet. KENET also facilitates electronic communication among students and faculties in member institutions, share learning and teaching resources by collaboration in Research and Development of Educational content.