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.
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 16:00:00 +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 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.
Title accountsservice: shell injection via attacker-controlled ~/.pam_environment in Ubuntu language helper scripts
Weaknesses CWE-78
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: 2026-08-20T14:32:59.924Z

Updated: 2026-08-26T19:50:34.552Z

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

Link: CVE-2026-61898

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-08-26T19:50:26.474Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Awaiting Analysis

Published: 2026-08-20T15:17:38.913

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

Link: CVE-2026-61898

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Important

Publid Date: 2026-08-20T14:32:59Z

Links: CVE-2026-61898 - Bugzilla