An Ubuntu-specific patch to AccountsService before 23.13.9-8ubuntu7 only partially drops privileges before launching language helper scripts. It changes the effective UID/GID to the target user but leaves the real UID as 0 (root). A shell spawned by a helper script inherits ruid=0 and may reset its effective UID to root, enabling local privilege escalation.
History

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Mon, 24 Aug 2026 12:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

threat_severity

Important


Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Canonical
Canonical accountsservice
Vendors & Products Canonical
Canonical accountsservice

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description An Ubuntu-specific patch to AccountsService before 23.13.9-8ubuntu7 only partially drops privileges before launching language helper scripts. It changes the effective UID/GID to the target user but leaves the real UID as 0 (root). A shell spawned by a helper script inherits ruid=0 and may reset its effective UID to root, enabling local privilege escalation.
Title accountsservice: incomplete privilege drop when running Ubuntu-specific language helper scripts
Weaknesses CWE-273
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: canonical

Published: 2026-08-20T14:32:53.827Z

Updated: 2026-08-26T19:50:49.398Z

Reserved: 2026-07-11T18:43:51.251Z

Link: CVE-2026-61897

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-08-26T19:50:43.428Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2026-08-20T15:17:38.740

Modified: 2026-08-28T15:24:38.600

Link: CVE-2026-61897

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Important

Publid Date: 2026-08-20T14:32:53Z

Links: CVE-2026-61897 - Bugzilla