SecureDrop Client has path injection in read_gzip_header_filename()
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.
Summary
SecureDrop Client is a desktop app for journalists to securely communicate with sources and handle submissions on the SecureDrop Workstation. In versions 0.17.4 and below, a compromised SecureDrop Server can achieve code execution on the Client's virtual machine (sd-app) by exploiting improper filename validation in gzip archive extraction, which permits absolute paths and enables overwriting critical files like the SQLite database. Exploitation requires prior compromise of the dedicated SecureDrop Server, which itself is hardened and only accessible via Tor hidden services. Despite the high attack complexity, the vulnerability is rated High severity due to its significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of decrypted source submissions. This issue is similar to CVE-2025-24888 but occurs through a different code path, and a more robust fix has been implemented in the replacement SecureDrop Inbox codebase. The issue has been fixed in version 0.17.5.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| freedomofpress | securedrop-client | before 0.17.5 | 0.17.5 | Patch available | CNA |
- securedrop-client Vendorfreedomofpress Affected before 0.17.5 Fixed in 0.17.5 Patch available CNA
Remediation
- Fix · CNA securedrop-client (freedomofpress) Fixed in 0.17.5
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-35465
References
Patch 1
Advisory 1
More freedomofpress vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-18590 Path traversal in SecureDrop Client API.download_reply() CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.1
- TI-2026-83225 SecureDrop lets API session tokens be reused against the web UI CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.0
- TI-2025-18591 Path traversal in sd-log Qubes virtual machine CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 4.5
- TI-2026-36827 securedrop-proxy origin limitation can be bypassed with redirects CVSS 3.1LOW 3.7
- TI-2026-86124 SecureDrop copies Onion Service credentials to Monitor Server CVSS 3.1LOW 2.6
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences