Description
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.
Affected products
apktool: apktool
References4
- github.com/iBotPeaches/Apktool/security/advisories/GHSA-m8mh-x3… MitigationVendor Advisory
- github.com/iBotPeaches/Apktool/commit/e10a0450c7afcd9462c0b76bc… Patch
- github.com/iBotPeaches/Apktool/pull/4041 Issue Tracking
- github.com/iBotPeaches/Apktool/releases/tag/v3.0.2 Product
Metrics
- CVSS 3.1
-
7.1
HIGH
Score source: NVD
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N - EPSS — exploit probability
- 0% percentile: 8 · as of 13 November 2026
- CWE
- CWE-22
Could this be exploited in your environment?
A patch closes the known hole. A penetration test shows what an attacker can still reach — with proof.