CVE-2026-91151

Cockpit: cockpit: local privilege escalation via insecure symlink handling in public key addition helper

Published Nov 11, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.3 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
A flaw was found in Cockpit. A local authenticated user with control over a target account's home directory can exploit a privileged symlink dereference vulnerability in the `ssh-add-public-key.sh` helper. When this helper runs with elevated privileges, it can be tricked into following attacker-controlled symlinks within the `.ssh` or `authorized_keys` paths. This allows the attacker to arbitrarily change file ownership and modes, potentially leading to local privilege escalation and impacting the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of the system.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat enterprise Linux Eus
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:10.2
Vendors & Products Redhat enterprise Linux Eus
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat rhel Eus
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:rhel_eus:9.8::appstream
cpe:/o:redhat:rhel_eus:9.8::baseos
Vendors & Products Redhat rhel Eus
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9 cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9::baseos
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:10
cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:8
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10.3
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8::baseos
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in Cockpit. A local authenticated user with control over a target account's home directory can exploit a privileged symlink dereference vulnerability in the `ssh-add-public-key.sh` helper. When this helper runs with elevated privileges, it can be tricked into following attacker-controlled symlinks within the `.ssh` or `authorized_keys` paths. This allows the attacker to arbitrarily change file ownership and modes, potentially leading to local privilege escalation and impacting the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of the system.
Title Cockpit: cockpit: local privilege escalation via insecure symlink handling in public key addition helper
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Redhat openshift Devspaces
Redhat rhel Els
Weaknesses CWE-59
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:10
cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:8
cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
cpe:/a:redhat:openshift_devspaces:3
cpe:/o:redhat:rhel_els:7
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Redhat openshift Devspaces
Redhat rhel Els
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
redhat
Published
Updated
Nov 13, 2026, 5:42 PM
Reserved
Sep 14, 2026, 8:37 PM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Nov 11, 2026, 8:17 PM
Modified
Nov 12, 2026, 5:17 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Nov 10, 2026, 11:59 PM