CVE-2026-92747

Cockpit-machines: cockpit-machines: sensitive data exposure of guest credentials via json argument in process list

Published Sep 18, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
A flaw was found in `cockpit-machines`. This vulnerability allows a local attacker with the ability to inspect running processes to expose sensitive guest virtual machine (VM) credentials, such as `rootPassword` and `userPassword`. This occurs when the `install_machine.py` script passes these credentials as a JSON command-line argument during VM creation or installation. The exposure is limited to the period when the installation workflow is active and depends on host process-visibility policies.

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

Exposure can be reduced by avoiding VM creation or installation flows that supply rootPassword or userPassword while untrusted local users are active on the host, and by using an alternative provisioning method where one is available. Restricting cross-user process inspection on the host, for example by hardening /proc visibility with the hidepid mount option, also limits the ability of other local users to read the install_machine.py command line. These measures reduce the exposure window but do not remove the underlying issue of credentials being passed in process arguments; they should be treated as temporary risk reduction until a fixed cockpit-machines package is available.

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10.3
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
cpe:/a:redhat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10.2
References
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in `cockpit-machines`. This vulnerability allows a local attacker with the ability to inspect running processes to expose sensitive guest virtual machine (VM) credentials, such as `rootPassword` and `userPassword`. This occurs when the `install_machine.py` script passes these credentials as a JSON command-line argument during VM creation or installation. The exposure is limited to the period when the installation workflow is active and depends on host process-visibility policies.
Title Cockpit-machines: cockpit-machines: sensitive data exposure of guest credentials via json argument in process list
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Weaknesses CWE-214
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:10
cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'}

ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
redhat
Published
Updated
Nov 11, 2026, 7:08 PM
Reserved
Sep 16, 2026, 6:50 PM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Sep 18, 2026, 6:18 PM
Modified
Nov 11, 2026, 7:17 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Sep 18, 2026, 4:35 PM