systemd-machined: unprivileged users can terminate arbitrary processes

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Summary

CVECVE-2026-15060
StatePUBLISHED
Assignersystemd
Source PriorityCVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback
Published2026-08-10 14:17:21 UTC
Updated2026-08-10 18:17:41 UTC
DescriptionWhen systemd-machined >= v259 (or v258 with a custom `polkit` policy that allows `register-machine` access) is running on a desktop system, an unprivileged user logged in a desktop graphical session can kill arbitrary processes, even privileged ones. - versions older than v259 are not affected, unless unprivileged access is granted for the `register-machine` polkit action via a local, custom policy config file - versions older than v258 are not affected - unrelated to the systemd service manager (pid 1 or user session managers) - systemd-machined is not typically installed by default, and is typically in an optional, separate package (e.g.: systemd-container) - terminal-only or remote sessions (e.g.: ssh) are not affected

Risk And Classification

Primary CVSS: v3.1 4.7 MEDIUM from 98a521c5-3a3e-4e2b-bc27-002067e0463c

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

EPSS: 0.000790000 probability, percentile 0.001700000 (date 2026-08-11)

Problem Types: CWE-284 | CWE-862 | CWE-284 CWE-284 | CWE-862 CWE-862

VersionSourceTypeScoreSeverityVector
3.198a521c5-3a3e-4e2b-bc27-002067e0463cSecondary4.7MEDIUMCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
3.1CNACVSS4.7MEDIUMCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS v3.1 Breakdown

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Vendor Declared Affected Products

SourceVendorProductVersionPlatforms
CNA Systemd Systemd-machined affected 259 262, 261.2, 260.4, 259.8, 258.10 custom Linux

References

ReferenceSourceLinkTags
github.com/systemd/systemd/security/advisories/GHSA-qwv4-3gwc-w5g8 98a521c5-3a3e-4e2b-bc27-002067e0463c github.com
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