CVE-2023-28100 TIOCLINUX can send commands outside sandbox if running on a virtual console
Attackers can execute arbitrary commands outside the sandbox by exploiting TIOCLINUX on Linux virtual consoles, requiring users to run Flatpak apps in non-graphical environments.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2023-28100?
CVE-2023-28100 is a critical command injection vulnerability in flatpak, published on 16 Mar 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
Flatpak is a system for building, distributing, and running sandboxed desktop applications on Linux. Versions prior to 1.10.8, 1.12.8, 1.14.4, and 1.15.4 contain a vulnerability similar to CVE-2017-5226, but using the `TIOCLINUX` ioctl command instead of `TIOCSTI`. If a Flatpak app is run on a Linux virtual console such as `/dev/tty1`, it can copy text from the virtual console and paste it into the command buffer, from which the command might be run after the Flatpak app has exited. Ordinary graphical terminal emulators like xterm, gnome-terminal and Konsole are unaffected. This vulnerability is specific to the Linux virtual consoles `/dev/tty1`, `/dev/tty2` and so on. A patch is available in versions 1.10.8, 1.12.8, 1.14.4, and 1.15.4. As a workaround, don't run Flatpak on a Linux virtual console. Flatpak is primarily designed to be used in a Wayland or X11 graphical environment.
Weakness: CWE-20
Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-28100?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Flatpak Flatpak.
How do I fix CVE-2023-28100?
Upgrade to a fixed version.
Upgrade, and pass arguments to programs as a list instead of through a shell. More about Command injection.
Is CVE-2023-28100 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-28100 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in flatpak
- CVE-2026-34078 Flatpak has a complete sandbox escape leading to host file access and code execution in the host context
- CVE-2019-10063 Security feature bypass in n/a
- CVE-2018-6560 Security feature bypass in n/a
- CVE-2026-34079 Flatpak affected by arbitrary file deletion on the host filesystem
- CVE-2023-28101 Flatpak metadata with ANSI control codes can cause misleading terminal output
Sources
Also known as CLSA-2025-1740132708, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-28100, GHSA-7qpw-3vjv-xrqp, OESA-2026-3852, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-28100.