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Vulnerabilities

Vulnerability · CVE-2023-26604

systemd before 247 does not adequately block local privilege escalation for some Sudo configurations, e.g., plausible sudoers files in which the "systemctl status" com…

Published Mar 3, 2023 · catalog updated Oct 14, 2026 · debian linux

Check if you run it

No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2023-26604. EPSS is 1.05%. Act only if a listed version of debian linux is installed.

Gaps on this record

  • No vendor fix or required action is stored. Compare the linked advisory before you change production.
Severity
High7.8
Known exploitation
Not in CISA/VulnCheck KEV
EPSS
1.05%
Remediation
Advisory link
Affected products
cpe debian/debian linux · cpe systemd project/systemd

systemd before 247 does not adequately block local privilege escalation for some Sudo configurations, e.g., plausible sudoers files in which the "systemctl status" command may be executed. Specifically, systemd does not set LESSSECURE to 1, and thus other programs may be launched from the less program. This presents a substantial security risk when running systemctl from Sudo, because less executes as root when the terminal size is too small to show the complete systemctl output.

Are you affected?

Enter the version you run. The result uses only the ranges stored on this record.

The check returns affected, not affected, or incomplete. It does not guess a version that is missing from the record.

  • cpe debian/debian linux10.0
  • cpe systemd project/systemdversion unspecified

How to fix CVE-2023-26604

What to do

Three questions, each answered from this record only. Confirm the vendor advisory before you patch.

Should you patch?

No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2023-26604. EPSS is 1.05%. Act only if a listed version of debian linux is installed.

Which versions are affected?

Compare what you have installed with debian/debian linux 10.0. Compare the installed version with the linked vendor advisory before you change production.

What should an analyst verify?

CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management. EPSS 1.05%. There is no CISA KEV listing. No Exploit-DB or Metasploit reference is linked. Use the source links for the original advisory.

Technology hubs

Debian security

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Mar 3, 2023 · NIST NVD

    Detected

    systemd before 247 does not adequately block local privilege escalation for some Sudo configurations, e.g., plausible sudoers files in which the "systemctl status" command may be executed. Specifically, systemd does not set LESSSECURE to 1, and thus other programs may be launched from the less program. This presents a substantial security risk when running systemctl from Sudo, because less execute

  2. Oct 14, 2026 · NIST NVD

    Updated

    systemd before 247 does not adequately block local privilege escalation for some Sudo configurations, e.g., plausible sudoers files in which the "systemctl status" command may be executed. Specifically, systemd does not set LESSSECURE to 1, and thus other programs may be launched from the less program. This presents a substantial security risk when running systemctl from Sudo, because less execute

Sources

  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2023-26604

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2023-26604

    30-day exploitation probability 1.1%

    first.org
  • NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2023-26604

    systemd before 247 does not adequately block local privilege escalation for some Sudo configurations, e.g., plausible sudoers files in which the "systemctl status" command may be executed. Specifically, systemd does not set LESSSECURE to 1, and thus other programs may be launched

    nvd.nist.gov
  • Packet Storm SecurityCited referencehttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/174130/systemd-246-Local-Root-Privilege-Escalation.html

    Packet Storm link already published on the finding.

    packetstormsecurity.com

References

Freshness

Last verified in this catalog Oct 16, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.

CVE-2023-26604: debian linux — systemd before 247 does not adequate… · ZeroDay Findings