# CVE-2026-46447: OpenStack Ironic boot script injection via unsanitized kernel parameters

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-46447-openstack-ironic-boot-script-injection-via-unsanitized-kernel  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-06-03. Updated: 2026-07-14  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-46447 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5.8 · Published 2026-06-03

OpenStack Ironic, a service for managing and provisioning bare metal machines, contains a vulnerability that allows for boot script injection. An attacker with high-level administrative access can inject malicious commands into the boot process of a server. This could allow the attacker to redirect the server to boot from a malicious source or compromise the security of the provisioning network.

Technologies: [OpenStack Ironic](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/ironic), [ironic (PyPI)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/pypi-ironic). Vendors: [OpenStack](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/openstack), [PyPI](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/pypi).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-46447 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-46447 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-46447?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5.8, published 3 June 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** OpenStack Ironic >= 17.0.0, < 26.1.7; >= 27.0.0, < 29.0.6; >= 30.0.0, < 32.0.2; >= 33.0.0, < 35.0.2, >=17.0.0 <26.1.7, >=27.0.0 <29.0.6, >=30.0.0 <32.0.2, >=33.0.0 <35.0.2; ironic (PyPI) ECOSYSTEM:introduced=17.0.0,fixed=26.1.7, ECOSYSTEM:introduced=17.0.0,fixed=26.1.7,introduced=27.0.0,fixed=29.0.6,introduced=30.0.0,fixed=32.0.2,introduced=33.0.0,fixed=35.0.2.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-46447?** Yes. ironic (PyPI): upgrade to 26.1.7, 35.0.2 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-46447 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-46447?** Check whether you run OpenStack Ironic or ironic (PyPI) at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## How to fix

- ironic (PyPI): upgrade to 26.1.7, 35.0.2 or later

  ```sh
  pip install "ironic>=35.0.2"
  ```


## Technical details

A vulnerability in OpenStack Ironic's kernel command line override logic allows for iPXE script injection. The root cause is the lack of sanitization for user-controlled values in 'instance_info' and 'driver_info' (specifically 'kernel_append_params' and 'ramdisk_kernel_arguments'), which are interpolated into PXE/iPXE boot templates. An attacker with sufficient privileges to modify node configuration can inject newlines or control characters to execute arbitrary iPXE commands. This can be used to redirect a node's boot process to an attacker-controlled kernel/initrd or leak sensitive agent tokens. The vulnerability is addressed by stripping control characters and preventing newline injection in boot parameters.

## Affected products

- OpenStack Ironic >= 17.0.0, < 26.1.7; >= 27.0.0, < 29.0.6; >= 30.0.0, < 32.0.2; >= 33.0.0, < 35.0.2

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-46447
- GHSA-jrh2-f5jc-xpgr
- PYSEC-2026-3471

## Timeline

- 2026-04-29: other: Vulnerability reported to OpenStack via Launchpad
- 2026-06-03: advisory: OpenStack Security Advisory OSSA-2026-017 published
- 2026-06-04: disclosed: GHSA-jrh2-f5jc-xpgr published

## References

- [https://bugs.launchpad.net/ironic/+bug/2150624](https://bugs.launchpad.net/ironic/+bug/2150624)
- [https://security.openstack.org/ossa/OSSA-2026-017.html](https://security.openstack.org/ossa/OSSA-2026-017.html)
- [http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/06/03/11](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/06/03/11)
- [http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/06/15/9](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2026/06/15/9)

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