Potentially sensitive details of federal politicians' diaries and emails may have been accessible to other users of the parliamentary computer system, in what one MP has called a "serious security issue".

The ABC understands the problem was discovered during the rollout of new software, giving users access to private information on the computers of other MPs or senators.

Liberal MP Alby Schultz has told Parliament he became aware of the problem last Thursday, and has since raised it with the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS).

"The issue involved the ability for people viewing an email with a member's address within to gain visual access to the member's Outlook calendar by simply hovering the cursor over the email address," he said.

In some cases, it is understood the glitch allowed access to other people's emails and potentially sensitive attachments.

Around 50 MPs and senators are believed to have been affected by the problem, including at least one Cabinet Minister.

Several have raised it with the Department.

The ABC has contacted a number of MPs who were affected by the issue but there has been some reluctance to discuss the problem out of "security concerns".

A Parliamentary Services spokesman says the Department is aware of the issue and has notified all MPs and senators about how to properly configure access settings.

An investigation is underway to make sure it does not happen again.