Description
A path traversal vulnerability in Flatpak's handling of the files/etc directory during app deployment allows a malicious Flatpak app to cause certain host system files (such as passwd, group, machine-id, or resolv.conf) to be emptied or replaced with a symlink when the app is installed or upgraded. In system-wide installations, the write is performed as root.
References10
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:89849
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:89850
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:89859
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:95061
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:95062
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:95063
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:95064
- access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-97024
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2542625
- github.com/flatpak/flatpak/security/advisories/GHSA-8xgq-v545-v…
Metrics
- CVSS 3.1
-
7.1
HIGH
Score source: CNA
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H - EPSS — exploit probability
- 0% percentile: 41 · as of 9 November 2026
- CWE
- CWE-61
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.