Host file disclosure via symlinked license paths
Published Apr 9, 2026 · Updated Apr 9, 2026
Path traversal in Flatpak flatpak-builder 1.4.5 through 1.4.7 allows attackers to read arbitrary host files through crafted build inputs. In find_defined_license_files, g_file_get_relative_path does not resolve symlinks, while the no-follow type check covers only the final component. Exploitation requires a user or CI service to process an attacker-controlled manifest or source, after which host files can be copied into distributed build output.
Summary
What happened
Path traversal in Flatpak flatpak-builder 1.4.5 through 1.4.7 allows attackers to read arbitrary host files through crafted build inputs. In find_defined_license_files, g_file_get_relative_path does not resolve symlinks, while the no-follow type check covers only the final component. Exploitation requires a user or CI service to process an attacker-controlled manifest or source, after which host files can be copied into distributed build output.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-39977
- Published
- Apr 9, 2026
- Updated
- Apr 9, 2026
- Vendor
- Flatpak
- Product
- flatpak-builder
- Classifications
- CWE-22, T1005
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 9, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 9, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=>= 1.4.5, < 1.4.8
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- GHSA symlinked license-path proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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