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Glances EUVDEUVD-2026-60305

| CVE-2026-68519 HIGH
OS Command Injection (CWE-78)
2026-08-17 GitHub_M GHSA-59fj-m2j6-hcxh
7.1
CVSS 4.0 · Vendor: GitHub_M
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Obtain write access to glances.conf
  2. Delivery
    Inject shell operator into alert action directive
  3. Exploit
    Start or confirm Glances runs with --disable-config-exec
  4. Execution
    Generate load to trigger alert threshold
  5. Persist
    GlancesActions.run() calls secure_popen with allow_operators=True
  6. Impact
    Shell interprets operators and executes chained command at Glances process privilege

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization OS command sanitization, avoid shell exec
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 1 tactic: Execution

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

The attacker must have write access to the Glances configuration file (glances.conf) on the local system - this is the primary trust boundary identified in the advisory. Glances must be running with the --disable-config-exec flag (the flag that operators enable specifically to harden config-driven command execution), otherwise operators are already permitted by design and this is expected behavior. An alert threshold configured in glances.conf (e.g., user_critical for CPU) must be crossed; this can be engineered locally or may trigger naturally under load. Exploitation is strictly local (AV:L); remote exploitation is not possible without first obtaining config file write access through another vulnerability. The impact ceiling is the privilege of the Glances process - typically a service account, not necessarily root. Limiting factors: requires local presence, config write privilege, and alert threshold satisfaction.

Impact

The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N) with score 7.1 accurately represents the constrained threat model: local access is required, and the attacker must hold write privileges over the Glances configuration file (PR:H). The AT:P metric reflects that alert threshold crossing is a prerequisite - this can be engineered by a local attacker (e.g., CPU stress test) or may occur organically. The primary risk is to environments where operators have explicitly enabled --disable-config-exec as a security boundary, believing it prevents config-file-driven command execution holistically; this CVE nullifies that assurance for the alert action path. No EPSS data was provided in the input; no KEV listing exists, indicating no confirmed widespread exploitation. A benign PoC is publicly documented in the advisory (GHSA-59fj-m2j6-hcxh), confirming technical exploitability. Real-world risk is moderate: exploitation requires both local config file write access and the ability to trigger an alert, limiting opportunistic attacks, but presents a meaningful privilege escalation or persistence vector in shared or multi-tenant monitoring deployments.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A local attacker with write access to glances.conf modifies a CPU threshold alert action to include a shell redirect, for example user_critical_action=id > /tmp/pwned, then induces CPU load to trigger the CRITICAL alert threshold. When GlancesActions.run() fires, secure_popen() receives allow_operators=True (the unpatched default) and interprets the > operator, writing the output of id to /tmp/pwned at the privilege of the Glances process - despite --disable-config-exec being active. A benign variant of this scenario is documented as the PoC in GHSA-59fj-m2j6-hcxh.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Aug 17, 2026

Glances versions through 4.5.5 contain an incomplete fix for CVE-2026-53925: the --disable-config-exec flag correctly suppresses shell operator interpretation in AMP module commands but fails to do so for on-alert action commands in glances/actions.py, where secure_popen() is called without allow_operators=False. An attacker with write access to glances.conf can place shell metacharacters (>, &&, |) in alert action directives, which execute at the Glances process privilege when an alert threshold is crossed - despite the operator supposedly operating in hardened mode. No public exploit confirmed active exploitation (no CISA KEV listing); a benign proof-of-concept is documented in GHSA-59fj-m2j6-hcxh. The fix is available in Glances 4.5.6.

RemediationAI

Upgrade Glances to version 4.5.6 via pip install --upgrade 'glances==4.5.6'; the fix (commit 5c07c0d96423e9d5b9de71dd92e3717c66f504bd) adds an allow_operators() method to GlancesActions that propagates the --disable-config-exec flag into all secure_popen() calls on the alert action path. Release notes are at https://github.com/nicolargo/glances/releases/tag/v4.5.6. For environments that cannot immediately patch, restrict write permissions on glances.conf to the Glances process owner only (chmod 640 and ensure only the dedicated service account can write), preventing unprivileged users from injecting shell operators into alert action directives. Additionally, audit existing [cpu], [mem], and other threshold sections in glances.conf for any entries containing >, &&, or | in action values, and remove or sanitize them. Note that the permission restriction does not eliminate the vulnerability if the attacker already holds equivalent privilege - patching is the only complete remediation.

Affected VersionsENISA

Glances < 4.5.6

Affected Packages

pypi glances fix: 4.5.6

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in pypi

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

Glances is a Python-based cross-platform system monitoring tool distributed via pip (CPE: cpe:2.3:a:nicolargo:glances:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*). Its secure_popen() utility accepts an allow_operators boolean that governs whether shell metacharacters (&&, |, >) are passed to the shell for interpretation. When --disable-config-exec is active, the AMP modules (e.g., glances/amps/default/__init__.py, glances/amps/systemv/__init__.py) correctly call secure_popen(..., allow_operators=self.allow_operators()) to strip those operators. However, GlancesActions.run() in glances/actions.py line 111 calls secure_popen(cmd_full) with no allow_operators argument, defaulting to True. CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in an OS Command) describes the root class: user-supplied configuration values containing shell operators reach an execution sink without proper sanitization, making the security flag ineffective for this code path.

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Severity by source

Vendor (GitHub_M) PRIMARY 7.1 HIGH
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
vuln.today AI 6.7 MEDIUM

Local access and config-file write privilege (PR:H, AV:L) are required; impact is bounded to the Glances process with no scope change to other components (S:U).

3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
SUSE HIGH

Primary rating from Vendor (GitHub_M).

CVSS VectorVendor: GitHub_M

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Attack Requirements
Present
Privileges Required
High
User Interaction
None
Vulnerable system: Confidentiality
High
Vulnerable system: Integrity
High
Vulnerable system: Availability
High
Subsequent system: Confidentiality
None
Subsequent system: Integrity
None
Subsequent system: Availability
None

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Aug 17, 2026 - 18:16 EUVD
CVE Published
Aug 17, 2026 - 17:10 cve.org
HIGH 7.1

DescriptionCVE.org

Glances is an open-source system cross-platform monitoring tool. Prior to 4.5.6, GlancesActions.run() in glances/actions.py ignores --disable-config-exec for on-alert action commands and invokes secure_popen() with shell operators enabled, allowing configured redirection, command chaining, or pipes to execute when an alert triggers. This issue is fixed in 4.5.6.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Glances system monitoring software versions through 4.5.5 contain a command injection vulnerability in alert action handling that allows attackers with configuration file write access to execute arbitrary shell commands at Glances process privilege levels. Organizations deploying Glances for infrastructure visibility face unauthorized command execution risk on monitored systems, particularly where configuration file integrity is not strictly enforced. This represents a critical control gap in environments where configuration management access is not restricted.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Vendor-released patch: Glances 4.5.6. Interim mitigations pending patching: restrict write permissions on glances.conf to the Glances service account only, disable alert actions if operationally non-essential, run Glances with least-privilege process credentials, and implement file integrity monitoring on configuration files.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.1%
Top 97% exploitable
Prevalence
Medium
popular open-source sysadmin monitoring tool, pip-installable
Threat Intel
1
1 sources
Data Quality
7 sources
Confidence: High
EUVD NVD CVE.org EPSS Vulnrichment GHSA Vendor GitHub

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.1%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Scheduled
Exploitation
Poc
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable
No
Human Impact
High
Technical Impact
Total

Priority Score

36
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +36
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

OS command injection occurs when an application passes unsanitized user input directly into system shell commands.

CVE-2021-23418 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Jul 29

The package glances before 3.2.1 are vulnerable to XML External Entity (XXE) Injection via the use of Fault to parse unt

CVE-2026-68518 HIGH POC
8.8 Aug 17

Command injection in Glances prior to 4.5.6 allows a local unprivileged user to execute arbitrary shell commands when ad

CVE-2026-30928 HIGH POC
7.5 Mar 10

Glances is an open-source system cross-platform monitoring tool. versions up to 4.5.1 is affected by information exposur

CVE-2026-62982 HIGH
8.8 Aug 17

Command injection in Glances system monitoring (versions 4.5.2 through 4.5.5) allows a local attacker with process-execu

CVE-2026-34839 HIGH
7.7 Apr 21

Cross-origin data exfiltration in Glances web server allows remote unauthenticated attackers to read sensitive system in

CVE-2026-35587 HIGH
7.3 Apr 21

Server-Side Request Forgery in Glances IP plugin allows authenticated attackers to force the monitoring application to s

CVE-2026-30930 HIGH
7.3 Mar 10

SQL injection in Glances TimescaleDB export module allows local attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the

CVE-2026-68517 MEDIUM
6.5 Aug 17

Glances REST API prior to 4.5.6 exposes authenticated system monitoring data to untrusted cross-origin websites due to a

CVE-2026-35588 MEDIUM
6.3 Apr 21

Cassandra export module in Glances prior to version 4.5.4 allows local privilege-escalated users to redirect monitoring

CVE-2026-68520 MEDIUM
5.3 Aug 17

Credential disclosure in Glances prior to 4.5.6 allows unauthenticated remote attackers to retrieve plaintext usernames

Vendor StatusVendor

SUSE

Severity: Important
Product Status
openSUSE Tumbleweed Fixed

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