CVE-2026-85498

Polkit: regression in cve-2026-4897 fix (polkit read_cookie()) - stack buffer underflow

Published Oct 29, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 3.5 Low EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
A flaw was found in polkit. When processing input that begins with a null byte, an arithmetic error in the authentication agent helper causes an integer underflow during buffer length calculation, resulting in an out-of-bounds memory read. An attacker capable of supplying crafted input can trigger this flaw, potentially causing an application crash and resulting in a Denial of Service (DoS).

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the criteria for a mitigation as defined by the Red Hat Product Security team. This flaw remains subject to future review as new information becomes available. Exposure is limited: the defect is reachable only by a local/adjacent low-privileged user interacting with the polkit authentication agent and results at most in a crash (availability) of the affected process.

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8762-1 polkit vulnerability
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat rhel Els
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
cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:10
cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:8
cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
cpe:/o:redhat:rhel_els:6
cpe:/o:redhat:rhel_els:7
Vendors & Products Redhat rhel Els
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:openshift:5
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 No description is available for this CVE. A flaw was found in polkit. When processing input that begins with a null byte, an arithmetic error in the authentication agent helper causes an integer underflow during buffer length calculation, resulting in an out-of-bounds memory read. An attacker capable of supplying crafted input can trigger this flaw, potentially causing an application crash and resulting in a Denial of Service (DoS).
Title polkit: Regression in CVE-2026-4897 fix (polkit read_cookie()) - stack buffer underflow Polkit: regression in cve-2026-4897 fix (polkit read_cookie()) - stack buffer underflow
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Redhat hummingbird
Redhat openshift
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:hummingbird:1
cpe:/a:redhat:openshift:4
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
Redhat hummingbird
Redhat openshift
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Polkit Project
Polkit Project polkit
Vendors & Products Polkit Project
Polkit Project polkit
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description No description is available for this CVE.
Title polkit: Regression in CVE-2026-4897 fix (polkit read_cookie()) - stack buffer underflow
Weaknesses CWE-125
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 3.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L'}

threat_severity

Low

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
redhat
Published
Updated
Nov 6, 2026, 7:46 PM
Reserved
Sep 4, 2026, 12:34 AM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Oct 29, 2026, 9:17 AM
Modified
Nov 6, 2026, 8:17 PM
Severity
Low
Public date
Sep 4, 2026, 12:00 AM