---
title: "HOST-UPD-002 Reboot Required to Apply Updates"
canonical: https://openvapt.com/checks/HOST-UPD-002.html
html: https://openvapt.com/checks/HOST-UPD-002.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-UPD-002 Reboot Required to Apply Updates

Checks whether installed updates (often kernel or core library fixes) are waiting for a reboot.

- Domain: Server
- Severity: Medium
- 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:L/I:L/A:L`
- CIS Controls v8: 7.3
- NIST CSF 2.0: ID.RA-01, PR.PS-02
- CWE: CWE-1104
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: SI-2

## Why It Matters

Updated packages do not protect anything until the running kernel and libraries are replaced. A pending reboot means known-fixed vulnerabilities are still live.

## How It Detects

Checks for /var/run/reboot-required (Debian/Ubuntu) and reads the package list in /var/run/reboot-required.pkgs when present.

## How to Fix

Schedule a maintenance window and reboot (or use live patching where supported).

## How to Verify

```
ls /var/run/reboot-required  should not exist after the reboot.
```

## Learn the Theory

- [P1 Linux Server Hardening](https://openvapt.com/academy/p1.md)

## References

- [NIST SP 800-40 Rev. 4](https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/40/r4/final)

## Source Code

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

Run it: `openvapt scan --only HOST-UPD-002`. Read it offline: `openvapt explain HOST-UPD-002`.

---

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