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CVE-2026-39973

Apktool: Path Traversal to Arbitrary File Write

Published: Apr 21, 2026Updated: Apr 21, 2026 Sources: CVE List NVD
NVD MITRE
7.1CVSS
HIGH

Apktool is a tool for reverse engineering Android APK files. In versions 3.0.0 and 3.0.1, 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 (PR #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. The fix in version 3.0.2 re-introduces `BrutIO.sanitizePath()` in `ResFileDecoder.java` before file write operations.

EPSS Score
N/A
CISA KEV
Not in KEV
Exploits
No Known Exploits
Remediation
No Fix Available

CVSS Vector Breakdown

AV:LAC:LPR:NUI:RS:UC:HI:HA:N
Exploitability
AV:LAttack Vector
Local
AC:LAttack Complexity
Low
PR:NPrivileges Required
None
UI:RUser Interaction
Required
Scope
S:UScope
Unchanged
Impact
C:HConfidentiality
High
I:HIntegrity
High
A:NAvailability
None

Weaknesses

CWE-22

Affected Products

Apktool
iBotPeaches

Attack Graph

Products CVE Techniques Tactics

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Exploitability

No known exploits, KEV entries, or remediation guidance available for this vulnerability yet.

MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques
Collection
Discovery
View detailed technique mapping

References

https://github.com/iBotPeaches/Apktool/security/advisories/GHSA-m8mh-x359-vm8m
github.com
https://github.com/iBotPeaches/Apktool/pull/4041
github.com
https://github.com/iBotPeaches/Apktool/commit/e10a0450c7afcd9462c0b76bcbff0e7428b92bdd#diff-cd531ebe1014bfd18185bf21585ca5cdb16fbcb07703ebc47949a1b4e4e36bc3
github.com
and 1 more references View all →

Timeline

Published
Apr 21, 2026
Last Updated
Apr 21, 2026

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