CVE-2026-61897

accountsservice: incomplete privilege drop when running Ubuntu-specific language helper scripts

Published Aug 20, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.8 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
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.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8580-1 AccountsService vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8580-2 AccountsService vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

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

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
canonical
Published
Updated
Aug 26, 2026, 7:50 PM
Reserved
Jul 11, 2026, 6:43 PM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Aug 20, 2026, 3:17 PM
Modified
Oct 18, 2026, 8:10 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Aug 20, 2026, 2:32 PM