CVE-2026-97023 Flatpak: flatpak: arbitrary file deletion in root context via path traversal in deploy directory export/bin
A malicious Flatpak app can delete arbitrary files as root via path traversal during system-wide installation or upgrade.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-97023?
CVE-2026-97023 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, published on 28 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
A path traversal vulnerability in Flatpak's handling of the export/bin directory during app deployment allows a malicious Flatpak app to cause deletion of attacker-chosen files outside the deployment directory when the app is installed or upgraded. In system-wide installations, the deletion is performed as root.
Weakness: CWE-61
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-97023?
How do I fix CVE-2026-97023?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2026-97023 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-97023 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as CLSA-2026-1792769619, CLSA-2026-1792769794, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-97023, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97023.