Flatpak metadata with ANSI control codes can cause misleading terminal output
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · Low · None
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
Flatpak is a system for building, distributing, and running sandboxed desktop applications on Linux. In versions prior to 1.10.8, 1.12.8, 1.14.4, and 1.15.4, if an attacker publishes a Flatpak app with elevated permissions, they can hide those permissions from users of the `flatpak(1)` command-line interface by setting other permissions to crafted values that contain non-printable control characters such as `ESC`. A fix is available in versions 1.10.8, 1.12.8, 1.14.4, and 1.15.4. As a workaround, use a GUI like GNOME Software rather than the command-line interface, or only install apps whose maintainers you trust.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| flatpak | flatpak | before 1.10.8; 1.12.0 to before 1.12.8; 1.14.0 to before 1.14.4; 1.15.0 to before 1.15.4 | 1.10.8, 1.12.8, 1.14.4, 1.15.4 | Patch available | CNA |
- flatpak Vendorflatpak Affected before 1.10.8; 1.12.0 to before 1.12.8; 1.14.0 to before 1.14.4; 1.15.0 to before 1.15.4 Fixed in 1.10.8, 1.12.8, 1.14.4, 1.15.4 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:flatpak:flatpak:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 1.10.8; 1.12.0 to before 1.12.8; 1.14.0 to before 1.14.4; 1.15.0 to before 1.15.4 | Vulnerable | flatpak |
- cpe:2.3:a:flatpak:flatpak:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 1.10.8; 1.12.0 to before 1.12.8; 1.14.0 to before 1.14.4; 1.15.0 to before 1.15.4 Vulnerable ·flatpak
Remediation
- Fix · CNA flatpak (flatpak) Fixed in 1.10.8, 1.12.8, 1.14.4, 1.15.4
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2023:7038 Released 2023-11-14 · Red Hat rating Moderateflatpak security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) flatpak-1.10.8-1.el8, flatpak-devel-1.10.8-1.el8, flatpak-session-helper-1.10.8-1.el8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) flatpak-1.10.8-1.el8, flatpak-libs-1.10.8-1.el8, flatpak-selinux-1.10.8-1.el8 +1
- RHSA-2023:6518 Released 2023-11-07 · Red Hat rating Moderateflatpak security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) flatpak-1.12.8-1.el9, flatpak-devel-1.12.8-1.el9, flatpak-session-helper-1.12.8-1.el9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) flatpak-1.12.8-1.el9, flatpak-libs-1.12.8-1.el9, flatpak-selinux-1.12.8-1.el9 +1
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:7038 |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:6518 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:7038 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:6518 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-28101
References
Patch 4
- https://github.com/flatpak/flatpak/security/advisories/GHSA-h43h-fwqx-mpp8
- https://github.com/flatpak/flatpak/commit/409e34187de2b2b2c4ef34c79f417be698830f6c
- https://github.com/flatpak/flatpak/commit/6cac99dafe6003c8a4bd5666341c217876536869
- https://github.com/flatpak/flatpak/commit/7fe63f2e8f1fd2dafc31d45154cf0b191ebec66c
More Flatpak vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-26401 Flatpak has a complete sandbox escape leading to host file access and code execution in the host context CVSS 4.0CRITICAL 9.3
- TI-2024-28440 Flatpak may allow access to files outside sandbox for certain apps CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2023-12679 TIOCLINUX can send commands outside sandbox if running on a virtual console CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2026-26402 Flatpak affected by arbitrary file deletion on the host filesystem CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.7
- TI-2019-07389 Flatpak before 1.0.8, 1.1.x and 1.2.x before 1.2.4, and 1.3.x before 1.3.1 allows a… CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.0
- TI-2021-19666 Permissions granted to applications can be hidden from the user at install time CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.6
Sources
- CVE-2023-28101 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-28101 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- CVE-2023-28101 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences