---
id: CVE-2026-113496
title: >-
  Cockpit-machines: vnc console password disclosure through virt-xml
  command-line arguments
summary: >-
  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…
severity: medium
cvss: 5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-214
vendor: Red Hat
product: cockpit-machines
affected:
  - cockpit-machines (all versions)
  - cockpit-machines (all versions)
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: partial
  timestamp: '2026-10-20T12:44:50.167799Z'
published: '2026-10-20'
updated: '2026-10-20'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-20T13:11:55.048Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-113496'
references:
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-113496'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2556058'
    label: RHBZ#2556058
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-113496.json
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-113496'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-113496'
tags:
  - cve.org
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
ingestedAt: '2026-10-20T12:05:07.320Z'
---

## Overview

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.

## Affected

- `cockpit-machines (all versions)`
- `cockpit-machines (all versions)`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.

### Workarounds

Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base, or stability.

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · affected: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · no fix planned: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · updated 2026-10-20 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-113496.json)