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Vulnerability record · CVE-2018-15686 · published 26 October 2018

CVE-2018-15686: Canonical ubuntu linux deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability

Canonical · Ubuntu Linux

A vulnerability in unit_deserialize of systemd allows an attacker to supply arbitrary state across systemd re-execution via NotifyAccess. This can be used to improperly influence systemd execution and possibly lead to root privilege escalation. Affected releases are systemd versions up to and including 239.

7.8 CVSS 3.1 High EPSS 2.3% · top 17.6% CWE-502 · Deserialization of untrusted data
7.8CVSS 3.1 base score, v2 7.2
2.3%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
4Affected product versions listed by NVD
22References, 2 tagged exploit
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

A vulnerability in unit_deserialize of systemd allows an attacker to supply arbitrary state across systemd re-execution via NotifyAccess. This can be used to improperly influence systemd execution and possibly lead to root privilege escalation. Affected releases are systemd versions up to and including 239.

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

4 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105747 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2091 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3222 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0593 Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/systemd/systemd/pull/10519 PatchThird Party Advisory
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1b103833cb5bc8466e24ff0ecc5e75b45a705334ab6a444e64e840a0%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.ap
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/11/msg00017.html Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201810-10 Third Party Advisory
https://usn.ubuntu.com/3816-1/ Third Party Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45714/ ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html Third Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105747 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2091 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3222 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0593 Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/systemd/systemd/pull/10519 PatchThird Party Advisory
https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r1b103833cb5bc8466e24ff0ecc5e75b45a705334ab6a444e64e840a0%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.ap
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/11/msg00017.html Mailing ListThird Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201810-10 Third Party Advisory
https://usn.ubuntu.com/3816-1/ Third Party Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45714/ ExploitThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://www.oracle.com//security-alerts/cpujul2021.html Third Party Advisory

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2018-15686), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-10-06). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.