CVE-2023-28101 MEDIUM

CVE-2023-28101: Flatpak metadata with ANSI control codes can cause misleading terminal output

Vendor Flatpak
Product flatpak
Weakness CWE-116
Published March 16, 2023
Last update February 25, 2025

CVSS base score

5.0/10
Attack vector Network
Attack complexity Low
Privileges required Low
User interaction None
Confidentiality None
Integrity Low

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N

What the vulnerability does

01Description

Flatpak is a system for building, distributing, and running sandboxed desktop applications on Linux. In versions prior to 1.10.8, 1.12.8, 1.14.4, and 1.15.4, if an attacker publishes a Flatpak app with elevated permissions, they can hide those permissions from users of the `flatpak(1)` command-line interface by setting other permissions to crafted values that contain non-printable control characters such as `ESC`. A fix is available in versions 1.10.8, 1.12.8, 1.14.4, and 1.15.4. As a workaround, use a GUI like GNOME Software rather than the command-line interface, or only install apps whose maintainers you trust.

Key dates

02Disclosure timeline

March 16, 2023 CVE published
February 25, 2025 Record updated