USN-8580-2: AccountsService vulnerabilities

Publication date

21 July 2026

Overview

AccountsService could be made to run programs as an administrator if it opened a specially crafted file.


Packages

Details

USN-8580-1 fixed vulnerabilities in AccountsService. This update provides
the corresponding fixes for Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, Ubuntu 16.04 LTS,
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, and Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.

Original advisory details:

It was discovered that the Ubuntu-specific SetLanguage patch to
AccountsService incorrectly handled dropping privileges. A local attacker
could use this issue to execute arbitrary commands as an administrator.
(CVE-2026-61897)

It was discovered that the Ubuntu-specific SetLanguage helpers for
AccountsService incorrectly handled parsing configuration files. A local
attacker could use this issue to execute arbitrary commands.
(CVE-2026-61898)

USN-8580-1 fixed vulnerabilities in AccountsService. This update provides
the corresponding fixes for Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, Ubuntu 16.04 LTS,
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, and Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.

Original advisory details:

It was discovered that the Ubuntu-specific SetLanguage patch to
AccountsService incorrectly handled dropping privileges. A local attacker
could use this issue to execute arbitrary commands as an administrator.
(CVE-2026-61897)

It was discovered that the Ubuntu-specific SetLanguage helpers for
AccountsService incorrectly handled parsing configuration files. A local
attacker could use this issue to execute arbitrary commands.
(CVE-2026-61898)

Update instructions

After a standard system update you need to reboot your computer to make all the necessary changes.

Learn more about how to get the fixes.

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu Release Package Version
20.04 LTS focal accountsservice –  0.6.55-0ubuntu12~20.04.7+esm1  
18.04 LTS bionic accountsservice –  0.6.45-1ubuntu1.3+esm2  
16.04 LTS xenial accountsservice –  0.6.40-2ubuntu11.6+esm2  
14.04 LTS trusty accountsservice –  0.6.35-0ubuntu7.3+esm4  

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