Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A malicious ZIP, 7z, or GEM archive can run commands when an affected RPM extraction utility processes a crafted top-level folder name. Successful exploitation requires a user or automated process to extract the archive to a destination directory. Commands run with that process’s permissions, potentially compromising data and systems.
Executive priority
Prioritize affected Hardened Images used for automated or externally supplied archive processing. Patch or replace them promptly, especially when extraction runs with service, build, or administrative privileges. Standard RHEL 6–10 systems are listed as unaffected, so validate product identity before broad emergency action.
Technical view
CVE-2026-44604 is a CWE-78 command injection in rpmuncompress dountar(). The archive’s top-level directory name is inserted without adequate escaping into a popen() shell command. Shell metacharacters can therefore trigger arbitrary command execution. The supplied CVSS 3.1 score is 7.0, reflecting local access, high complexity, required user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
The bundle identifies Red Hat Hardened Images 6.0.1-6.1.hum1 package rpm-main as affected. RHEL 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 RPM packages are explicitly listed as unaffected. Highest exposure exists where affected images extract untrusted ZIP, 7z, or GEM archives into specified destination directories.
Exploitation context
No active exploitation is established by the supplied sources, and the CVE is not identified as KEV. Exploitation requires a specially crafted archive and extraction by a user or workflow. Risk rises in automated ingestion, build, packaging, or file-processing systems that accept untrusted archives and run with valuable permissions.
Researcher notes
The injection boundary is the archive-controlled top-level directory name used by dountar() in a popen() shell command. Available evidence supports arbitrary command execution in the extracting user’s context, but does not establish remote reachability or exploitation in the wild. The bundle does not provide the corrected package version or patch implementation details.
Mitigation direction
- Apply the updates specified in Red Hat advisory RHSA-2026:28491.
- Replace or rebuild affected Hardened Images using vendor-corrected packages.
- Restrict affected workflows from extracting untrusted ZIP, 7z, or GEM archives.
- Run necessary archive extraction with minimal privileges and isolated filesystem access.
- Check Red Hat guidance for corrected package versions not provided in this bundle.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Red Hat Hardened Images and identify rpm-main package versions.
- Confirm whether version 6.0.1-6.1.hum1 is present in deployed or build images.
- Verify RHEL-only systems match the vendor’s explicitly unaffected product list.
- Identify workflows that extract untrusted ZIP, 7z, or GEM files to destination directories.
- Confirm patched images use the package release specified by RHSA-2026:28491.
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 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-2026-44604 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
- 7 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/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
1 official scoreWe 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:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H15.9redhatVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/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.
- Source timelineredhat
Reported to Red Hat.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- Source timelineredhat
Made public.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- RHSA-2026:28491CVE reference, redhat · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-44604CVE reference, redhat · vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT
- RHBZ#2460967CVE reference, redhat · issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT
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.