Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2026-43003 affects OpenStack ironic-python-agent versions 1.0.0 through 11.5.0. During bare-metal deployment, IPA may run grub-install from inside a deployed image. If that image is malicious, it can lead to code execution. This is mainly a risk where image sources are not tightly controlled.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority infrastructure risk for organizations using OpenStack Ironic bare-metal provisioning. Prioritize environments where untrusted or semi-trusted images can enter deployment workflows. No active exploitation is cited in the provided sources.
Technical view
IPA sometimes executes grub-install within a chroot of the deployed partition image. The CVE maps to CWE-78 and CWE-829, with CVSS 8.5 high: network vector, low privileges, high attack complexity, no user interaction, changed scope, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in OpenStack Ironic environments using ironic-python-agent 1.0.0 through 11.5.0, especially where users, tenants, CI/CD systems, or external processes can provide deployment images. Environments using only trusted, controlled images may have lower practical risk, but still need vendor guidance.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not state active exploitation, and KEV is false. The described precondition is a malicious deployed partition image. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation is high complexity but can have severe cross-scope impact if achieved.
Researcher notes
Evidence is clear on the vulnerable behavior and affected IPA range, but the provided bundle does not name a fix, patch version, or confirmed exploitation. Avoid assuming downstream product impact beyond OpenStack ironic-python-agent and referenced Red Hat tracking.
Mitigation direction
- Check OpenStack and Red Hat advisories for fixed versions or official mitigations.
- Restrict deployment images to trusted, reviewed, and controlled sources.
- Block tenant-supplied or externally sourced images until risk is assessed.
- Strengthen image signing, provenance checks, and approval workflows.
- Review affected IPA versions in Ironic provisioning infrastructure.
Validation and detection
- Inventory all OpenStack Ironic deployments and IPA package versions.
- Confirm whether IPA 1.0.0 through 11.5.0 is present.
- Review who can create, upload, or select deployment images.
- Check image provenance, signing, and approval enforcement.
- Monitor vendor advisories for patch or mitigation updates.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-78: Command execution behavior lookup
Command injection weaknesses can lead defenders to review execution techniques and command interpreter telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCWE-829: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2026-43003 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
2 official scoresWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H1.86redhat-SADPCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H1.36mitreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.5HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- ADP timelineredhat-SADP
Made public.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- ADP timelineredhat-SADP
Reported to Red Hat.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
- 2026-05-01T09:00:58.874Z: Reported to Red Hat.
- 2026-05-01T00:00:00.000Z: Made public.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://bugs.launchpad.net/ironic-python-agent/+bug/2148310CVE reference, mitre
- https://github.com/openstack/ironic-python-agent/blob/236b33abffe6688afc39c21e351cc3889b3db2dd/ironic_python_agent/efi_utils.py#L134-L139CVE reference, mitre
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-43003CVE reference, redhat-SADP · vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT
- RHBZ#2464306CVE reference, redhat-SADP · issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-43003.jsonCVE reference, redhat-SADP · x_sadp-csaf-vex
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere
Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.