CVE-2026-15060
systemd-machined: unprivileged users can terminate arbitrary processes
When 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-machinepolkit 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
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
systemd-machined: unprivileged users can terminate arbitrary processes
When 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-machinepolkit 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
- Record
CVE-2026-15060- CVSS 3.1
- 4.7 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-284, CWE-862
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-55627
When 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-machinepolkit 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
- Record
EUVD-2026-55627- CVSS 3.1
- 4.7 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
When 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-machinepolkit 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
- Record
CVE-2026-15060- CVSS 3.1
- 4.7 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-284, CWE-862
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2026-15060
When 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
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2026-15060- CVSS 3.1
- 4.7 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2026-15060
When 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
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2026-15060- CVSS 3.1
- 4.7 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
systemdDebian:14 |
before 261.2-1, plus listed versions 257.13-1~deb13u1257.7-1257.8-1~deb13u1257.8-1~deb13u2257.9-1~deb13u1 Show 29 moreShow less258-1258.1-1258.1-2258~rc1-1258~rc2-1258~rc2-2258~rc3-1258~rc4-1259-1259.1-1259~rc1-1259~rc2-1259~rc3-1260-1260.1-1260~rc1-1260~rc1-2260~rc2-1260~rc3-1260~rc4-1261-1261-2261.1-1261.1-2261.1-3261~rc1-1261~rc2-1261~rc3-1261~rc4-1 |
261.2-1 |
systemdUbuntu:26.04:LTS |
before 259.5-0ubuntu3.4, plus listed versions 257.9-0ubuntu2259-1ubuntu2259-1ubuntu3259.3-0ubuntu1259.5-0ubuntu1259.5-0ubuntu2259.5-0ubuntu3259.5-0ubuntu3.3 |
259.5-0ubuntu3.4 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-15060 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 4.7) in Systemd Systemd-machined, published August 10, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.08%, the 0th percentile. Fixed in systemd 261.2-1.