CVE-2026-113496 in Red Hat
Summary
by MITRE • 10/20/2026
A flaw was found in cockpit-machines. When saving Virtual Network Computing (VNC) console settings, the configured password is passed directly as a command-line argument to an underlying system utility. A local unprivileged attacker on a host that allows cross-user process inspection could read the exposed password from the process list while another user modifies settings. This credential disclosure can allow unauthorized access to the guest virtual machine's graphical console.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2026
The vulnerability identified in cockpit-machines represents a critical security flaw rooted in improper handling of sensitive credentials during configuration updates for Virtual Network Computing consoles. When an administrator or authorized user saves VNC console settings within the Cockpit interface, the system is designed to pass the configured password directly as a command-line argument to an underlying utility responsible for managing the virtual machine's graphical display server. This architectural decision bypasses more secure methods of credential storage and transmission, such as environment variables, configuration files with restricted permissions, or inter-process communication mechanisms that do not expose secrets in the operating system process table. The fundamental technical flaw lies in the reliance on command-line arguments to convey sensitive data, a practice widely recognized in software engineering as insecure due to the visibility of these arguments within the host's process management subsystems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for any environment where multiple users share access to the same physical or virtualized infrastructure. Specifically, it enables credential disclosure through cross-user process inspection. On Linux-based systems, which typically underpin Cockpit deployments, processes are often visible to other users on the system unless strict isolation measures like cgroups with specific permissions or SELinux/AppArmor policies are rigorously enforced. A local unprivileged attacker who has been granted permission to inspect running processes can execute commands such as ps auxf or similar utilities to view the full command lines of all active processes. By monitoring the process list while another user is in the act of saving VNC settings, the attacker can capture the plaintext password being passed as an argument. This exposure occurs transiently but frequently enough during configuration changes to allow for reliable interception by a determined adversary with local access.
This credential disclosure directly facilitates unauthorized access to guest virtual machines. Once the attacker obtains the VNC console password from the process list, they can use it to connect to the graphical interface of the targeted virtual machine using any standard VNC client. This grants the attacker full interactive control over the guest operating system's desktop environment, effectively bypassing authentication mechanisms designed to protect the VM. The implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access; depending on the services running within the guest OS and the privileges assigned to the user account associated with that console session, an attacker could potentially escalate their privilege level, exfiltrate sensitive data installed on the virtual machine, or use the compromised VM as a pivot point for further attacks against other network segments. This scenario highlights the risk of lateral movement in cloud-native and virtualized environments where local host compromise can lead to widespread infrastructure breach.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command, specifically regarding the exposure of sensitive data through command-line arguments, which is often categorized under CWE-209 Generation of Error Message Containing Sensitive Information or more accurately CWE-315 Use of Cleartext Password for Authentication. In terms of attack vectors and tactics, this flaw supports techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework such as T1078 Valid Accounts, where attackers leverage legitimate credentials to gain access, and potentially T1046 Network Service Discovery if used to map out available services within a compromised VM. The vulnerability underscores the importance of adhering to secure coding practices that prevent sensitive data from appearing in process listings or logs.
Mitigation strategies must focus on eliminating the exposure of passwords via command-line arguments entirely. Developers should refactor the cockpit-machines component to pass credentials through more secure channels, such as environment variables which are not visible in standard process listings, or by using temporary files with strict file system permissions that are deleted immediately after use. Additionally, implementing robust access controls and mandatory access control systems like SELinux can restrict cross-user process inspection, thereby limiting the attack surface for local unprivileged users even if command-line arguments remain exposed during development phases. System administrators should also enforce principle of least privilege by ensuring that only essential services have visibility into each other's processes and regularly auditing user permissions on shared hosts to minimize the risk of lateral movement through credential harvesting.