Staged deployments skip signature policy checks in bootc and ostree
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-345.
Summary
bootc and ostree finalize already-staged deployments without rechecking the container image against the current containers signature policy (CWE-345). Unsigned OS content staged under an earlier permissive policy can remain bootable after the policy is tightened to reject unsigned images, which can lead to full host compromise on reboot.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-04
Description from the CNA
A flaw was found in bootc and ostree. Already-staged deployments are finalized without revalidating the deployment's container image against the current containers signature policy. Unsigned OS content staged under a prior permissive policy can remain bootable after policy is hardened to reject unsigned images, leading to full host compromise on reboot.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Hardened Images | — | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Hardened Images | — | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Red Hat Hardened Images VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- Red Hat Hardened Images VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
CPE names CNA · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:10 | 10 | — | Red Hat |
| cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:8 | 8 | — | Red Hat |
| cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9 | 9 | — | Red Hat |
| cpe:/a:redhat:hummingbird:1 | 1 | — | Red Hat |
| cpe:/a:redhat:openshift:4 | 4 | — | Red Hat |
| cpe:/a:redhat:openshift:5 | 5 | — | Red Hat |
- cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:10 Versions 10 — ·Red Hat
- cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:8 Versions 8 — ·Red Hat
- cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9 Versions 9 — ·Red Hat
- cpe:/a:redhat:hummingbird:1 Versions 1 — ·Red Hat
- cpe:/a:redhat:openshift:4 Versions 4 — ·Red Hat
- cpe:/a:redhat:openshift:5 Versions 5 — ·Red Hat
Remediation
The sources list no fixed version for Red Hat Hardened Images. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, 9 and 10 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and 5 are listed as not affected.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-04
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Hardened Images | Affected | No fix yet |
Not affected: 5 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5
Timeline
- 2026-10-19 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-16460
- 2026-10-19 Alias added: GHSA-72gj-m9xp-j6qc
- 2026-10-19 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-19 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
- 2026-10-21 Affected versions changed · CNA
- 2026-11-04 Affected versions changed · CNA
- 2026-11-04 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
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- TI-2018-16080 A code execution vulnerability exists in the Stapler web framework used by Jenkins 2.153… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2026-16460 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-16460 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-72gj-m9xp-j6qc · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-16460 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences