yggdrasil-worker-package-manager: Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command
CVE-2026-18157 is a high-severity improper neutralization of argument delimiters in a command vulnerability in yggdrasil-worker-package-manager from RedHatInsights, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 0.1.4, 0.2.4 as the first without the flaw, so updating yggdrasil-worker-package-manager to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.36% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update yggdrasil-worker-package-manager to 0.1.4 or 0.2.4, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| RedHatInsights | yggdrasil-worker-package-manager | before 0.1.4; 0.2.0 up to, but not including, 0.2.4 | 0.1.4, 0.2.4 |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (redhat.com).
Official description
A flaw was found in yggdrasil-worker-package-manager. A local attacker with existing access to the system could exploit an argument injection vulnerability in the APT backend. This allows specially crafted package names, which begin with a hyphen, to be misinterpreted as command options by apt-get. Successful exploitation could lead to remote code execution (RCE) with root privileges, enabling the attacker to fully compromise the system's integrity, confidentiality, and availability.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command
The product constructs a string for a command to be executed by a separate component in another control sphere, but it does not properly delimit the intended arguments, options, or switches within that command string.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Understand all the potential areas where untrusted inputs can enter your product: parameters or arguments, cookies, anything read from the network, environment variables, request headers as well as content, URL components, e-mail, files, databases, and any external systems that provide data to the application. Perform input validation at well-defined interfaces.
- Directly convert your input type into the expected data type, such as using a conversion function that translates a string into a number. After converting to the expected data type, ensure that the input's values fall within the expected range of allowable values and that multi-field consistencies are maintained.
- When exchanging data between components, ensure that both components are using the same character encoding. Ensure that the proper encoding is applied at each interface. Explicitly set the encoding you are using whenever the protocol allows you to do so.
More Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command vulnerabilities (CWE-88)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Other references
Recent Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command vulnerabilities
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