CVE-2026-61898
The Ubuntu-specific language helper scripts (save-to-pam-env, update-langlist) shipped with accountsservice before 23.13.9-8ubuntu7 treat the user-controlled LANGUAGE entry in ~/.pam_environment as trusted input. The value is interpolated unescaped into a GNU sed replacement expression, allowing an attacker to inject a sed 'e' flag and arbitrary shell commands that execute with the privileges of the AccountsService helper process (real UID 0) via the SetLanguage D-Bus method.
CSIRTS triage
- What
- Local attackers can execute arbitrary commands as an administrator due to privilege handling issues.
- Who is affected
- Users of AccountsService on the specified Ubuntu versions are affected.
- Urgency
- Remediation is critical as it allows local privilege escalation.
- Action
- Apply the latest updates for AccountsService on affected Ubuntu versions.
AI-assisted analysis generated from the source advisory — verify against the original.
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Exploitation outlook
- Low exploitation risk0.13% 30-day exploitation probability — currently an unlikely target, but scores change as exploit code circulates. Riskier than 3% of all EPSS-scored CVEs.
Advisory coverage (3)
- highCVE-2026-61898: The Ubuntu-specific language helper scripts (save-to-pam-env, update-langlist) shipped with ac…nvd · 2026-08-20
- unknownUSN-8580-2: AccountsService vulnerabilitiesubuntu · 2026-07-21
- unknownUSN-8580-1: AccountsService vulnerabilitiesubuntu · 2026-07-21
External references
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[](https://www.csirts.com/cve/CVE-2026-61898)