---
title: "CVE-2026-16487: bootc - Remote Code Execution"
description: "bootc contains a remote code execution caused by applying unsigned content for registries with insecureAcceptAnything policy, letting attackers execute arbitrary OS content as host root on reboot, exploit requires attacker to update mutable image tag."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-16487/
---

# CVE-2026-16487 bootc - Remote Code Execution

bootc contains a remote code execution caused by applying unsigned content for registries with insecureAcceptAnything policy, letting attackers execute arbitrary OS content as host root on reboot, exploit requires attacker to update mutable image tag.

CVSS base score 8.1 /10

High

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

Authentication

Not required

EPSS

0.17% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-16487)

## Details

Type

Remote Code Execution

Impact

Remote Code Execution

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Published

19 October 2026

Updated

20 October 2026

Weakness

[CWE-345](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/345.html)

## Vendor fix

Update to the latest version with fixed container signature policy handling.

Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them.

## References

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-16487](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-16487)
- [https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-16487](https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-16487)
- [https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show\_bug.cgi?id=2503686](https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2503686)

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## What this record can't tell you

- Whether you run the affected software, and where
- Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it
- The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number
- What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first

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