CVE-2026-61898

The Ubuntu-specific language helper scripts (save-to-pam-env, update-langlist) shipped with accountsservice before 23.13.9-8ubuntu7 treat the user-controlled LANGUAGE entry in ~/.pam_environment as trusted input. The value is interpolated unescaped into a GNU sed replacement expression, allowing an attacker to inject a sed 'e' flag and arbitrary shell commands that execute with the privileges of the AccountsService helper process (real UID 0) via the SetLanguage D-Bus method.

CVSS v3 7.8 HIGH

7.8^/10

CVSS v3 : HIGH

Vector :

Exploitability : 1.8 / Impact : 5.9

Attack Vector LOCAL

Attack Complexity LOW

Privileges Required LOW

User Interaction NONE

Confidentiality Impact HIGH

Integrity Impact HIGH

Availability Impact HIGH

Scope UNCHANGED

References

Link	Resource
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/accountsservice/+bug/2157985
https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-61898

Configurations

No configuration.

History

No history.

Information

Published : 2026-08-20 15:17

Updated : 2026-08-28 15:24

NVD link : CVE-2026-61898

Mitre link : CVE-2026-61898

CVE.ORG link : CVE-2026-61898

JSON object : View

Products Affected

No product.

CWE

CWE-78

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')

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