# CVE-2026-97023: Flatpak: flatpak: arbitrary file deletion in root context via path traversal in deploy directory export/bin

Status: published. Published: 2026-09-28. Updated: 2026-11-04.

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.

## Remediation

- workaround: Avoid installing Flatpak apps from non-trusted publishers, particularly in system-wide deployments. (source: CNA: redhat)

## Affected products and versions

- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 (flatpak): ≥ 0:1.16.0-9.el10_2.6; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.0 Extended Update Support (flatpak): ≥ 0:1.16.0-5.el10_0.8; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (flatpak): ≥ 0:1.12.9-9.el8_10; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 (flatpak): ≥ 0:1.12.9-4.el9_8.6; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Update Services for SAP Solutions (flatpak): ≥ 0:1.12.7-5.el9_2.7; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 (flatpak): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat

## Severity and prioritization

- CVSS 3.1: 7.1 (high); CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H; source: CNA: redhat

- CVSS 3.1: 7.1 (high); CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H; source: NVD: secalert@redhat.com

- CISA KEV: No listing in collected sources

- EPSS: 0.37% as of 2026-11-03; percentile 31.12%

- SSVC: exploitation none; automatable no; technical impact partial; source ADP: CISA-ADP

- Weaknesses: CWE-61

## Exploit evidence

No exploit evidence in collected sources. This is not proof of no exploitation.

## References

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:89849 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:89850 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:89859 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:95062 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:95063 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-97023 (CNA: redhat; vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2542606 (CNA: redhat; issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://github.com/flatpak/flatpak/security/advisories/GHSA-5p67-xh8x-rq54 (CNA: redhat)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:89849 (secalert@redhat.com)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:89850 (secalert@redhat.com)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:89859 (secalert@redhat.com)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:95062 (secalert@redhat.com)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:95063 (secalert@redhat.com)

- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-97023 (secalert@redhat.com)

- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2542606 (secalert@redhat.com)

- https://github.com/flatpak/flatpak/security/advisories/GHSA-5p67-xh8x-rq54 (secalert@redhat.com)

## Provenance

- CNA: redhat: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-97023; retrieved 2026-11-04; source updated 2026-11-04

- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97023; retrieved 2026-11-04; source updated 2026-11-04

- FIRST EPSS: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-97023; retrieved 2026-11-04; source updated Not reported

Revision: a778c0faa470d2604b28095aa690293056a5b6192a2e8c3d3226a20858ac5978

Canonical: https://y2.dev/cve/CVE-2026-97023

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