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TI-2026-28829 Aliases CVE-2026-39973GHSA-m8mh-x359-vm8m

Apktool: Path Traversal to Arbitrary File Write

Priority LOW 32CWE-22Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · None
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub.

Summary

Apktool is a tool for reverse engineering Android APK files. In versions 3.0.0 and 3.0.1, a path traversal vulnerability in `brut/androlib/res/decoder/ResFileDecoder.java` allows a maliciously crafted APK to write arbitrary files to the filesystem during standard decoding (`apktool d`). This is a security regression introduced in commit e10a045 (PR #4041, December 12, 2025), which removed the `BrutIO.sanitizePath()` call that previously prevented path traversal in resource file output paths. An attacker can embed `../` sequences in the `resources.arsc` Type String Pool to escape the output directory and write files to arbitrary locations, including `~/.ssh/config`, `~/.bashrc`, or Windows Startup folders, escalating to RCE. The fix in version 3.0.2 re-introduces `BrutIO.sanitizePath()` in `ResFileDecoder.java` before file write operations.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00182 7th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Apktool (iBotPeaches): 3.0.2org.apktool:apktool-lib (Maven): 3.0.2

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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
iBotPeachesApktool3.0.0 to before 3.0.23.0.2Patch availableCNA
—org.apktool:apktool-lib (Maven)3.0.0 to before 3.0.23.0.2Patch availableGHSA-m8mh-x359-vm8m
  • Apktool VendoriBotPeaches Affected 3.0.0 to before 3.0.2 Fixed in 3.0.2 Patch available CNA
  • org.apktool:apktool-lib (Maven) Vendor— Affected 3.0.0 to before 3.0.2 Fixed in 3.0.2 Patch available GHSA-m8mh-x359-vm8m

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:apktool:apktool:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*3.0.0 to before 3.0.2VulnerableApktool
  • cpe:2.3:a:apktool:apktool:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 to before 3.0.2 Vulnerable ·Apktool

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA Apktool (iBotPeaches) Fixed in 3.0.2
  • Fix · GHSA-m8mh-x359-vm8m org.apktool:apktool-lib (Maven) Fixed in 3.0.2 Advisory →

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-39973
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-m8mh-x359-vm8m

References

Patch 1

Advisory 2

Other 3

  • TI-2024-16152 Aprktool before 2.9.3 on Windows allows ../ and /.. CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2024-14358 Arbitrary file write on Decoding CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences