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🛡️ CVE-2026-39973 — apktool

🟠 CVSS 8.0 — High ✅ No Known Exploit CWE-22 NVD
8.0
CVSS Score
0 Low4 Medium7 High9 Critical10

Description

Apktool: Path Traversal to Arbitrary File Write

A path traversal vulnerability in brut/androlib/res/decoder/ResFileDecoder.java allows a maliciously crafted APK to write arbitrary files to the filesystem during standard decoding (apktool d). This is a security regression introduced in commit [e10a045](https://github.com/iBotPeaches/Apktool/commit/e10a0450c7afcd9462c0b76bcbff0e7428b92bdd#diff-cd531ebe1014bfd18185bf21585ca5cdb16fbcb07703ebc47949a1b4e4e36bc3) ([PR #4041](https://github.com/iBotPeaches/Apktool/pull/4041), December 12, 2025), which removed the BrutIO.sanitizePath() call that previously prevented path traversal in resource file output paths.

An attacker can embed ../ sequences in the resources.arsc Type String Pool to escape the output directory and write files to arbitrary locations, including ~/.ssh/config, ~/.bashrc, or Windows Startup folders, escalating to RCE.

Fix: Re-introduce BrutIO.sanitizePath() in ResFileDecoder.java before file write operations.

How this vulnerability can be exploited

This issue can be reached with local access to the system, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs no privileges on the target. A user must be tricked into taking some action. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality high, integrity high, availability none.

CVSS metrics in full

The score comes from this vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

  • Attack vector: Local — a local account, shell or session on the host is needed.
  • Attack complexity: Low — the attack works reliably, with no preparation.
  • Privileges required: None — an unauthenticated stranger can try it.
  • User interaction: Required — someone has to click, open or visit something.
  • Scope: Unchanged — the damage stays inside the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: High — total loss, or loss the attacker controls.
  • Integrity impact: High — total loss, or loss the attacker controls.
  • Availability impact: None.

Weakness class

CVE-2026-39973 is classified as CWE-22: Path Traversal. A file path built from user input is not confined to the intended directory, letting an attacker reach files elsewhere on the filesystem.

Affected software

CVE-2026-39973 is recorded against 2 packages.

  • apktool (from 3.0.0 up to 3.0.2)
  • org.apktool:apktool-lib (from 3.0.0 up to 3.0.2)

Timeline and source

Published on 21 April 2026 and last revised on 17 June 2026. No public exploit is currently recorded for this entry. A vendor advisory or fix has been published. Record sourced from NVD.

References

github.com
github.com
github.com
github.com

Other advisories for this package

apktool has other advisories on record. If you are patching this one, these are worth checking on the same host:

Same weakness in other software

These advisories are the same class of weakness (CWE-22: Path Traversal) in other software:

CVE-2026-39973 on other distributions

Each distribution ships its own build and its own fixed version. Pick the one you run:

Details

Severity HIGH
CVSS Score 8.0
CVSS Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
CWE CWE-22
Public Exploit ✅ No
Source NVD
Published 2026-04-21
Updated 2026-08-20
Modified 2026-06-17

Affected Packages

Software From version Fixed in
apktool 3.0.0 3.0.2
org.apktool:apktool-lib 3.0.0 3.0.2

Site Security Check

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ⓘ Data Notice: The information presented above has been compiled from publicly available internet sources. Boteraser aggregates this data solely for informational purposes and does not independently classify, evaluate, or endorse any findings about the vulnerabilities listed. The accuracy and completeness of this information is the sole responsibility of the original publishers. Boteraser and its operators accept no liability for any decisions made based on this data.

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