CVE-2026-92768

Cockpit-machines: cockpit-machines: sensitive data exposure via command-line arguments

Published Sep 18, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
A flaw was found in cockpit-machines. This vulnerability allows a local attacker to expose sensitive Virtual Machine (VM) credentials, including plaintext passwords, by inspecting process command-line arguments during VM creation or installation. The cockpit-machines component passes password values directly on the command line, making them visible to other local users on systems where process arguments are not restricted. Successful exploitation leads to information disclosure, potentially compromising VM access.

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

Restrict visibility of process command-line arguments to other local users by mounting /proc with the hidepid=2 option, for example by remounting /proc with 'mount -o remount,hidepid=2 /proc' or configuring 'proc /proc proc defaults,hidepid=2 0 0' in /etc/fstab. This prevents unprivileged local users from reading other users' process arguments. Additionally, on shared hosts where other local users can inspect process arguments, avoid supplying root or user passwords through the Cockpit Machines VM create and install flows, and prefer provisioning methods that do not pass passwords on the command line. Updated cockpit-machines packages that stop passing password material on the command line are being delivered for affected streams; installing the updated package once it is available for your stream resolves this issue.

Tracking

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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
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in cockpit-machines. This vulnerability allows a local attacker to expose sensitive Virtual Machine (VM) credentials, including plaintext passwords, by inspecting process command-line arguments during VM creation or installation. The cockpit-machines component passes password values directly on the command line, making them visible to other local users on systems where process arguments are not restricted. Successful exploitation leads to information disclosure, potentially compromising VM access.
Title Cockpit-machines: cockpit-machines: sensitive data exposure via command-line arguments
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': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
redhat
Published
Updated
Nov 11, 2026, 7:08 PM
Reserved
Sep 16, 2026, 7:08 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, 4:36 PM