---
id: "CVE-2026-113496"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-113496"]
title: "cockpit-machines: VNC console password visible in process list"
severity: "medium"
cvss: 5.0
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["cockpit", "cockpit-machines", "libvirt", "linux", "package", "self-hosted"]
not_affected_if: ["no-vnc-password", "process-visibility-restricted"]
published_at: "2026-10-20T12:17:29+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:20+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-25T04:30:43+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-113496", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:20+00:00"}]
---

# cockpit-machines: VNC console password visible in process list

When saving VNC console settings, cockpit-machines passes the configured password as a command-line argument to a system utility. A local user on a host that allows cross-user process inspection can read that password from the process list and use it to reach the guest VM's graphical console.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- unknown

## Fix

- unknown

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T21:57:20+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-113496

## From the sources

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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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_