Flatpak vulnerable to a sandbox escape via RequestBackground portal due to bad argument parsing
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · None
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 23 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-88.
Summary
Flatpak is a system for building, distributing, and running sandboxed desktop applications on Linux. in versions before 1.10.9, 1.12.9, 1.14.6, and 1.15.8, a malicious or compromised Flatpak app could execute arbitrary code outside its sandbox. Normally, the `--command` argument of `flatpak run` expects to be given a command to run in the specified Flatpak app, optionally along with some arguments. However it is possible to instead pass `bwrap` arguments to `--command=`, such as `--bind`. It's possible to pass an arbitrary `commandline` to the portal interface `org.freedesktop.portal.Background.RequestBackground` from within a Flatpak app. When this is converted into a `--command` and arguments, it achieves the same effect of passing arguments directly to `bwrap`, and thus can be used for a sandbox escape. The solution is to pass the `--` argument to `bwrap`, which makes it stop processing options. This has been supported since bubblewrap 0.3.0. All supported versions of Flatpak require at least that version of bubblewrap. xdg-desktop-portal version 1.18.4 will mitigate this vulnerability by only allowing Flatpak apps to create .desktop files for commands that do not start with --. The vulnerability is patched in 1.15.8, 1.10.9, 1.12.9, and 1.14.6.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
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 1.10.9; 1.12.0 to before 1.12.9; 1.14.0 to before 1.14.6; 1.15.0 to before 1.15.8 | 1.10.9, 1.12.9, 1.14.6, 1.15.8 | Patch available | CNA |
- flatpak Vendorflatpak Affected before 1.10.9; 1.12.0 to before 1.12.9; 1.14.0 to before 1.14.6; 1.15.0 to before 1.15.8 Fixed in 1.10.9, 1.12.9, 1.14.6, 1.15.8 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 3
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:flatpak:flatpak:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 1.10.9; 1.12.0 to before 1.12.9; 1.14.0 to before 1.14.6; 1.15.0 to before 1.15.8 | Vulnerable | flatpak |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:39:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 39 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:40:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 40 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
- cpe:2.3:a:flatpak:flatpak:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 1.10.9; 1.12.0 to before 1.12.9; 1.14.0 to before 1.14.6; 1.15.0 to before 1.15.8 Vulnerable ·flatpak
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:39:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 39 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:40:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 40 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
Remediation
- Fix · CNA flatpak (flatpak) Fixed in 1.10.9, 1.12.9, 1.14.6, 1.15.8
Red Hat 9 advisories
- RHSA-2024:3980 Released 2024-06-18 · Red Hat rating Importantflatpak security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) flatpak-1.0.9-13.el7_9, flatpak-libs-1.0.9-13.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) flatpak-builder-1.0.0-13.el7_9, flatpak-devel-1.0.9-13.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) flatpak-1.0.9-13.el7_9, flatpak-builder-1.0.0-13.el7_9, flatpak-devel-1.0.9-13.el7_9 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) flatpak-1.0.9-13.el7_9, flatpak-libs-1.0.9-13.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) flatpak-builder-1.0.0-13.el7_9, flatpak-devel-1.0.9-13.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) flatpak-1.0.9-13.el7_9, flatpak-libs-1.0.9-13.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) flatpak-builder-1.0.0-13.el7_9, flatpak-devel-1.0.9-13.el7_9
- RHSA-2024:3979 Released 2024-06-18 · Red Hat rating Importantflatpak security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v. 8.2) flatpak-1.6.2-7.el8_2, flatpak-libs-1.6.2-7.el8_2, flatpak-selinux-1.6.2-7.el8_2 +1
- RHSA-2024:3970 Released 2024-06-18 · Red Hat rating Importantflatpak security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.0) flatpak-1.12.5-3.el9_0, flatpak-libs-1.12.5-3.el9_0, flatpak-selinux-1.12.5-3.el9_0 +1
Show 6 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2024:3969 Released 2024-06-18 · Red Hat rating Importantflatpak security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.6) flatpak-1.8.7-2.el8_6, flatpak-libs-1.8.7-2.el8_6, flatpak-selinux-1.8.7-2.el8_6 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.8.6) flatpak-1.8.7-2.el8_6, flatpak-libs-1.8.7-2.el8_6, flatpak-selinux-1.8.7-2.el8_6 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v.8.6) flatpak-1.8.7-2.el8_6, flatpak-libs-1.8.7-2.el8_6, flatpak-selinux-1.8.7-2.el8_6 +1
- RHSA-2024:3962 Released 2024-06-17 · Red Hat rating Importantflatpak security update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.8.8) flatpak-1.10.7-2.el8_8, flatpak-devel-1.10.7-2.el8_8, flatpak-session-helper-1.10.7-2.el8_8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.8.8) flatpak-1.10.7-2.el8_8, flatpak-libs-1.10.7-2.el8_8, flatpak-selinux-1.10.7-2.el8_8 +1
- RHSA-2024:3961 Released 2024-06-17 · Red Hat rating Importantflatpak security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) flatpak-1.12.9-1.el8_10, flatpak-libs-1.12.9-1.el8_10, flatpak-selinux-1.12.9-1.el8_10 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) flatpak-1.12.9-1.el8_10, flatpak-devel-1.12.9-1.el8_10, flatpak-session-helper-1.12.9-1.el8_10
- RHSA-2024:3959 Released 2024-06-17 · Red Hat rating Importantflatpak security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) flatpak-1.12.9-1.el9_4, flatpak-libs-1.12.9-1.el9_4, flatpak-selinux-1.12.9-1.el9_4 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 9) flatpak-1.12.9-1.el9_4, flatpak-devel-1.12.9-1.el9_4, flatpak-session-helper-1.12.9-1.el9_4
- RHSA-2024:3963 Released 2024-06-17 · Red Hat rating Importantflatpak security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.4) flatpak-1.8.5-5.el8_4, flatpak-libs-1.8.5-5.el8_4, flatpak-selinux-1.8.5-5.el8_4 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.8.4) flatpak-1.8.5-5.el8_4, flatpak-libs-1.8.5-5.el8_4, flatpak-selinux-1.8.5-5.el8_4 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v.8.4) flatpak-1.8.5-5.el8_4, flatpak-libs-1.8.5-5.el8_4, flatpak-selinux-1.8.5-5.el8_4 +1
- RHSA-2024:3960 Released 2024-06-17 · Red Hat rating Importantflatpak security update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.2) flatpak-1.12.7-3.el9_2, flatpak-devel-1.12.7-3.el9_2, flatpak-session-helper-1.12.7-3.el9_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.2) flatpak-1.12.7-3.el9_2, flatpak-libs-1.12.7-3.el9_2, flatpak-selinux-1.12.7-3.el9_2 +1
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.8.8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3962 |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3960 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3961 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3959 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v. 8.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3979 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3963 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3969 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3963 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3969 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3970 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.8.8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3962 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3960 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3963 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3969 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3961 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3959 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3980 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3980 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3980 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3980 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3980 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3980 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2024:3980 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2024-32462
References
Patch 4
- https://github.com/flatpak/flatpak/commit/72016e3fce8fcbeab707daf4f1a02b931fcc004d
- https://github.com/flatpak/flatpak/commit/81abe2a37d363f5099c3d0bdcd0caad6efc5bf97
- https://github.com/flatpak/flatpak/commit/b7c1a558e58aaeb1d007d29529bbb270dc4ff11e
- https://github.com/flatpak/flatpak/commit/bbab7ed1e672356d1a78b422462b210e8e875931
Advisory 2
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-2024-32462 · CVE Program
- CVE-2024-32462 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- CVE-2024-32462 · 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