CVE-2026-41651: PackageKit privilege escalation via TOCTOU race condition in pk-transaction.c

CVE-2026-41651 · Severity: high · CVSS 8.8 · Published 2026-04-22

PackageKit is a system service used across many Linux distributions to manage software installations and updates. A security flaw allows a standard user to bypass normal security checks and install malicious software with full administrative (root) privileges. This could allow an attacker to take complete control of the computer, access any data, or disrupt operations.

Technologies: PackageKit. Vendors: PackageKit.

Quick answers

Is CVE-2026-41651 exploited in the wild?
No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-41651 being exploited in the wild.
How severe is CVE-2026-41651?
High severity, with a CVSS score of 8.8, published 22 April 2026.
Which products and versions are affected?
PackageKit 1.0.2 - 1.3.4.
Is there a fix for CVE-2026-41651?
A patch was published on 2026-04-22: Fixed in version 1.3.5 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.
How is CVE-2026-41651 attacked?
It is attacked with local access, in an operating system.
Am I affected by CVE-2026-41651?
Check whether you run PackageKit at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

Technical details

PackageKit contains a TOCTOU race condition in 'src/pk-transaction.c' related to how transaction flags are handled. The vulnerability stems from three primary issues: 'InstallFiles()' allows unconditional overwriting of 'cached_transaction_flags' even while a transaction is running; the state machine silently rejects backward state transitions without reverting flag changes; and the scheduler reads these flags at execution time rather than authorization time. A local unprivileged attacker can exploit this race to overwrite flags between the authorization and execution phases, allowing the installation of arbitrary RPM packages (including those with malicious scriptlets) without proper authentication. This issue is resolved in version 1.3.5.

Affected products

  • PackageKit PackageKit 1.0.2 - 1.3.4

Timeline

  • 2026-04-22: disclosed
  • 2026-04-22: advisory
  • 2026-04-22: patched: Fixed in version 1.3.5

References

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