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Medium · 4.7 CVE-2026-15060 EUVD-2026-55627

systemd-machined: unprivileged users can terminate arbitrary processes

Published Aug 10, 2026 · Updated Aug 10, 2026 · Assigned by systemd

Description

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

Affected products

VendorProductAffectedFixed
systemd systemd-machined 259 – < 262, 261.2, 260.4, 259.8, 258.10 262, 261.2, 260.4, 259.8, 258.10

Fixed in Linux distributions

Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.

ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian 14 systemd 261.2-1 —
ReleasePackageFixed inAdvisory
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS systemd 259.5-0ubuntu3.4 —

Advisories 1

References