CVE-2026-46447 in Ironic
Summary
by MITRE • 06/04/2026
OpenStack Ironic through 35.0.x allows Boot Script Injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2026
OpenStack Ironic represents a critical infrastructure component within cloud environments, serving as the bare metal provisioning service that manages physical hardware resources. The vulnerability in question involves boot script injection capabilities that can be exploited by unauthorized actors to manipulate the boot process of physical machines. This flaw exists in versions up to and including 35.0.x, indicating a significant window of exposure across multiple releases. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the ironic service's boot script generation and execution processes. Attackers can leverage this weakness to inject malicious code or commands into the boot scripts that are executed during the provisioning of bare metal instances, potentially compromising the entire physical infrastructure. The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes improper control of generation of code, specifically when the system allows external input to influence code execution paths. This type of injection vulnerability represents a severe threat vector because it can enable attackers to gain persistent access to physical hardware resources, bypass traditional virtualization security boundaries, and potentially escalate privileges within the broader cloud environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple code injection, as it fundamentally undermines the security assurances provided by bare metal provisioning services. When an attacker successfully injects boot scripts, they can execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the provisioning service, potentially gaining root access to the physical machines. This capability allows for persistent backdoor establishment, data exfiltration, and the ability to manipulate the underlying hardware configuration. The attack surface is particularly concerning in multi-tenant environments where multiple organizations share the same physical infrastructure, as a compromised boot process could affect all instances running on that hardware. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to modify the boot environment in ways that could go undetected for extended periods, making it difficult for system administrators to maintain security integrity. From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which involves the execution of commands through various interfaces, and T1543.003, which covers the creation of boot-level persistence mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention and comprehensive implementation across all affected OpenStack Ironic deployments. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to patched versions of Ironic that address the boot script injection vulnerability, as version 35.1.x and subsequent releases contain the necessary security fixes. The implementation of strict input validation and sanitization measures within the boot script generation process is essential to prevent external inputs from influencing code execution paths. Security teams should implement robust monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect unauthorized changes to boot scripts or suspicious provisioning activities. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit who can interact with the ironic service and its boot script generation capabilities. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their existing boot scripts to identify any potential malicious code that may have been injected through this vulnerability. The principle of least privilege should be strictly enforced, ensuring that only authorized personnel can modify boot configurations and provisioning parameters. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning should be integrated into the operational procedures to maintain ongoing protection against similar threats. Compliance with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 should be maintained to ensure that the security controls implemented provide adequate protection against this class of vulnerability.