# CVE-2026-4897: A flaw was found in polkit. A local user can exploit this by providing a specially crafted, excessively long input to…

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-4897-a-flaw-was-found-in-polkit-a-local-user-can-exploit-this-by  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-03-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-4897 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5.5 · Published 2026-03-26

A flaw was found in polkit. A local user can exploit this by providing a specially crafted, excessively long input to the `polkit-agent-helper-1` setuid binary via standard input (stdin). This unbounded input can lead to an out-of-memory (OOM) condition, resulting in a Denial of Service (DoS) for the system.

Technologies: [Redhat Enterprise Linux](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/enterprise-linux), [Redhat Openshift Container Platform](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/openshift-container-platform). Vendors: [Freedesktop](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/freedesktop), [Redhat](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/redhat).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-4897 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-4897 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-4897?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5.5, published 26 March 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Freedesktop Polkit, Redhat Enterprise Linux, Redhat Openshift Container Platform. The advisory does not name versions.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-4897?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-4897?** Check whether you run Freedesktop Polkit, Redhat Enterprise Linux or Redhat Openshift Container Platform. 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.

## Affected products

- Freedesktop Polkit
- Redhat Enterprise Linux
- Redhat Openshift Container Platform

## Related threats

- [GIMP file-pix plugin stack overflow in PIX image processing](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-78475-gimp-file-pix-plugin-stack-overflow-in-pix-image-processing)
- [A flaw was found in Samba's CTDB, the clustered database service used by Samba. Insufficient integrity validation of…](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-58224-a-flaw-was-found-in-samba-s-ctdb-the-clustered-database-service)
- [A flaw was found in sblim-cmpi-base. Insecure temporary file creation in the provider registration scripts allows a…](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-73585-a-flaw-was-found-in-sblim-cmpi-base-insecure-temporary-file)
- [A flaw was found in sblim-sfcb. A local, low-privileged attacker can exploit a race condition during privileged…](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-73584-a-flaw-was-found-in-sblim-sfcb-a-local-low-privileged-attacker)
- [A flaw was found in sblim-sfcb. A local attacker with access to the system can exploit an unsafe deserialization…](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-73583-a-flaw-was-found-in-sblim-sfcb-a-local-attacker-with-access-to)