CVE-2026-19816

PackageKit: dnf5 backend ignores SIMULATE on RepoRemove

Published Sep 14, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.1 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
A flaw was found in PackageKit. PackageKit skips the polkit authorization check for transactions carrying the SIMULATE (dry-run) flag. In the dnf5 backend, the RepoRemove handler ignores that contract and always executes the real transaction because its guard is written as (role == REPO_REMOVE || !SIMULATE), which is always true for RepoRemove. An unprivileged local user can therefore perform a genuine package uninstall while claiming to simulate. This vulnerability only affects systems using PackageKit with the dnf5 backend.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in PackageKit. In the dnf5 backend, the RepoRemove handler ignores the SIMULATE transaction flag and executes a real package removal, allowing an unprivileged local user to uninstall packages without polkit authorization. A flaw was found in PackageKit. PackageKit skips the polkit authorization check for transactions carrying the SIMULATE (dry-run) flag. In the dnf5 backend, the RepoRemove handler ignores that contract and always executes the real transaction because its guard is written as (role == REPO_REMOVE || !SIMULATE), which is always true for RepoRemove. An unprivileged local user can therefore perform a genuine package uninstall while claiming to simulate. This vulnerability only affects systems using PackageKit with the dnf5 backend.
Title packagekit: PackageKit: PackageKit dnf5 ignores SIMULATE on RepoRemove PackageKit: dnf5 backend ignores SIMULATE on RepoRemove
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Packagekit
Packagekit packagekit
Vendors & Products Packagekit
Packagekit packagekit
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in PackageKit. In the dnf5 backend, the RepoRemove handler ignores the SIMULATE transaction flag and executes a real package removal, allowing an unprivileged local user to uninstall packages without polkit authorization.
Title packagekit: PackageKit: PackageKit dnf5 ignores SIMULATE on RepoRemove
Weaknesses CWE-863
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
fedora
Published
Updated
Sep 15, 2026, 6:04 PM
Reserved
Aug 14, 2026, 2:40 AM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Sep 14, 2026, 8:16 PM
Modified
Sep 18, 2026, 7:34 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Sep 9, 2026, 7:36 PM