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.
References
Configurations
History
23 Apr 2026, 15:39
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| First Time |
Apktool
Apktool apktool |
|
| CPE | cpe:2.3:a:apktool:apktool:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| References | () https://github.com/iBotPeaches/Apktool/commit/e10a0450c7afcd9462c0b76bcbff0e7428b92bdd#diff-cd531ebe1014bfd18185bf21585ca5cdb16fbcb07703ebc47949a1b4e4e36bc3 - Patch | |
| References | () https://github.com/iBotPeaches/Apktool/pull/4041 - Issue Tracking | |
| References | () https://github.com/iBotPeaches/Apktool/releases/tag/v3.0.2 - Product | |
| References | () https://github.com/iBotPeaches/Apktool/security/advisories/GHSA-m8mh-x359-vm8m - Vendor Advisory, Mitigation |
21 Apr 2026, 02:16
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| New CVE |
Information
Published : 2026-04-21 02:16
Updated : 2026-04-23 15:39
NVD link : CVE-2026-39973
Mitre link : CVE-2026-39973
CVE.ORG link : CVE-2026-39973
JSON object : View
Products Affected
apktool
- apktool
CWE
CWE-22
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
