---
title: "HOST-PKG-001 Security Updates Waiting to Be Installed"
canonical: https://openvapt.com/checks/HOST-PKG-001.html
html: https://openvapt.com/checks/HOST-PKG-001.html
site: OpenVAPT, https://openvapt.com/
license: OpenVAPT Source-Available Licence 1.3, https://openvapt.com/legal/licence-text.html
modified: 2026-10-14
version: 0.1.0-alpha.6
---

# HOST-PKG-001 Security Updates Waiting to Be Installed

Checks the package manager for published security updates that are not installed yet.

- Domain: Server
- Severity: High
- Control category: Patch and Vulnerability Management
- Fix effort: medium
- CVSS v3.1 vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`
- CIS Controls v8: 7.3
- NIST CSF 2.0: ID.RA-01, PR.PS-02
- CWE: CWE-1104
- OWASP Top 10 2021: A06:2021
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: SI-2, RA-5
- Benchmark topic: Patch management: install security updates (topic only, no benchmark text)

## Why It Matters

Most real-world compromises use vulnerabilities for which a fix was already available. Pending security updates are known, public weaknesses.

## How It Detects

Runs the package manager in simulation mode only (apt-get -s upgrade, or dnf/yum updateinfo --security). Nothing is downloaded or installed. Lines that come from a security repository are counted.

## How to Fix

Debian/Ubuntu: apt-get update && apt-get upgrade . RHEL family: dnf upgrade --security . Consider unattended-upgrades or dnf-automatic for security patches.

## How to Verify

```
Re-run openvapt; this check should pass.
```

## Learn the Theory

- [F3 Vulnerabilities, CVE, CWE and CVSS](https://openvapt.com/academy/f3.md)
- [P1 Linux Server Hardening](https://openvapt.com/academy/p1.md)

## References

- [NIST SP 800-40 Rev. 4, Guide to Enterprise Patch Management Planning](https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/40/r4/final)
- [Debian, UnattendedUpgrades](https://wiki.debian.org/UnattendedUpgrades)

## Source Code

https://github.com/OpenVAPT/openvapt/blob/574f7f3333c44b75a3c649e2d93a76d507f75adf/internal/checks/host/os_patch.go

Run it: `openvapt scan --only HOST-PKG-001`. Read it offline: `openvapt explain HOST-PKG-001`.

---

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