Evidence used
- No CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
- Exploitation requires an existing local or physical foothold with privileges.
- EPSS is 0.17% for the current model date.
BlackTreeCVE IntelligenceFull vulnerability report · 2026
CVE-2026-96281High confidence
Flatpak: flatpak: unprivileged active user can bypass anti-downgrade checks for system apps/runtimes
Red Hat · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
6.2MediumCVSS 3.1
Scheduled
Fix not verifiedMedium technical severity with no CISA KEV confirmation; remediate through the normal risk-based patch cycle unless local exposure raises the priority.
R
Open reassessment dashboard →Operational reassessment
Published severity in operational context
Published severityMedium→Operational priority:Low, lowered one band.downgradedsince 27 Sep 2026
Compensating controls
- Restrict local access and enforce least privilege on affected hosts.
- Monitor vendor guidance and exploitation sources for a material change.
Verification
- Confirm that the asset runs Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 and falls inside the recorded affected range.
- Recheck the vendor advisory before scheduling a change because no verified fixed version is currently retained.
- Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
- Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Distribution package intelligence
5 package statesRelease-specific package status
Debian, ubuntu findings are scoped to the named distribution, release and source package. An absent finding does not mean a package is unaffected.
Repository candidate not checked
A published vendor fix does not prove that a matching update is enabled and installable on a particular asset. Confirm the local package candidate before scheduling remediation.
| Distribution release | Source package | Vendor state | Fixed version | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debian trixietrixie · source | flatpak | Vendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release. | 1.16.6-1~deb13u2 | Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 4 Oct 2026 |
| Debian bookwormbookworm · source | flatpak | Affected, no fix publishedDebian currently tracks this release as open. | Not published in this feed | Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 4 Oct 2026 |
| Debian forkyforky · source | flatpak | Vendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release. | 1.18.1-1 | Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 4 Oct 2026 |
| Debian sidsid · source | flatpak | Vendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release. | 1.18.1-1 | Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 4 Oct 2026 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTSnoble · esm-apps | flatpak | Under evaluationCanonical reports that the package might be affected and still needs evaluation or fixing. | Not published in this feed | Canonical Ubuntu Security ↗Source updated 2 Oct 2026 |
Direct vendor intelligence
2 currentAuthoritative vendor CSAF and VEX advisories
Structured product status and remediation from the issuing vendor. Product-state explanations are always visible; large lists can be searched or downloaded.
CVE-2026-96281 · CSAF 2.0 · revision 3 · interimSUSE Product Security TeamCVE-2026-96281
The vendor explicitly identifies these products as affected by this CVE.
- flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7
- flatpak-devel as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7
- flatpak-remote-flathub as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7
- flatpak-zsh-completion as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7
- libflatpak0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7
- system-user-flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7
- typelib-1_0-Flatpak-1_0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7
- flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 12 SP5
- libflatpak0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 12 SP5
- typelib-1_0-Flatpak-1_0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 12 SP5
- flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1
- flatpak-devel as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1
- Summary
- On a multi-user system, a user with an active local login session could downgrade a system-wide Flatpak app to an older version by removing the app's remote ref via the unprivileged system-helper RemoveLocalRef method, causing the anti-downgrade check to fail to find a reference date. A malicious local user could use this to expose other users of the same system to an app version with unfixed vulnerabilities.
- Remediation
- No remediation text is recorded.
CVE-2026-96281 · CSAF 2.0 · revision 3 · finalRed Hat Product Securityflatpak: flatpak: Unprivileged active user can bypass anti-downgrade checks for system apps/runtimes
The vendor explicitly identifies these products as affected by this CVE.
- flatpak as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- flatpak-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- flatpak-libs as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- flatpak-selinux as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- flatpak-session-helper as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- flatpak.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- flatpak as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- flatpak-builder as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- flatpak-devel as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- flatpak-libs as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- flatpak.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- flatpak as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Summary
- On a multi-user system, a user with an active local login session could downgrade a system-wide Flatpak app to an older version by removing the app's remote ref via the unprivileged system-helper RemoveLocalRef method, causing the anti-downgrade check to fail to find a reference date. A malicious local user could use this to expose other users of the same system to an app version with unfixed vulnerabilities.
- Remediation
- Ensure that Flatpak apps installed system-wide are fully updated before running them.
Medium technical severity with no CISA KEV confirmation; remediate through the normal risk-based patch cycle unless local exposure raises the priority.
Fix not verified01
What, why and how
On a multi-user system, a user with an active local login session could downgrade a system-wide Flatpak app to an older version by removing the app's remote ref via the unprivileged system-helper RemoveLocalRef method, causing the anti-downgrade check to fail to find a reference date. A malicious local user could use this to expose other users of the same system to an app version with unfixed vulnerabilities.
What
On a multi-user system, a user with an active local login session could downgrade a system-wide Flatpak app to an older version by removing the app's remote ref via the unprivileged system-helper RemoveLocalRef method, causing the anti-downgrade check to fail to find a reference date. A malicious local user could use this to expose other users of the same system to an app version with unfixed vulnerabilities.
Why
The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.
How
An attacker operating through physical access may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.
What
On a multi-user system, a user with an active local login session could downgrade a system-wide Flatpak app to an older version by removing the app's remote ref via the unprivileged system-helper RemoveLocalRef method, causing the anti-downgrade check to fail to find a reference date. A malicious local user could use this to expose other users of the same system to an app version with unfixed vulnerabilities.
Why
The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.
How
An attacker operating through physical access may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.
02
Exploit reality and attack path
CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.
Observed exploitation No confirmed evidence
?
Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.
Public PoC / exploit material None recorded
?
Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.
- Likely attack path
- physical access → Improper Access Control → cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor
- Attack surface
- Physical
- Privileges required
- Low: a basic authenticated account is required
- User interaction
- Required interaction required
- Attack complexity
- High: exploitation depends on specific conditions
- Security boundary
- Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
- Weakness
?
CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness. - CWE-284 ↗
CWE-284: Improper Access Control. The product does not restrict or incorrectly restricts access to a resource from an unauthorized actor.
- CVSS vector
?
CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity. CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HCommon Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.
AVPhysicalAttack vector: The attacker needs physical access to the vulnerable system.ACHighAttack complexity: Successful exploitation depends on specific conditions outside the attacker's direct control.PRLowPrivileges required: The attacker needs basic user-level privileges.UIRequiredUser interaction: Another user must perform an action for exploitation to succeed.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.IHighIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.- Post-exploitation / living off the land
- No specific living-off-the-land technique is confirmed in the structured sources. Monitor normal administration tools for activity inconsistent with the affected service's baseline.
03
Patch and workaround
Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.
- Status
?
Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change. - Fix not verified
- Affected
- flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7
- flatpak-devel as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7
- flatpak-remote-flathub as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7
- flatpak-zsh-completion as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7
- libflatpak0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7
- system-user-flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7
- typelib-1_0-Flatpak-1_0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7
- flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 12 SP5
- libflatpak0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 12 SP5
- typelib-1_0-Flatpak-1_0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 12 SP5
- flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1
- flatpak-devel as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1
- flatpak-zsh-completion as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1
- libflatpak0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1
- typelib-1_0-Flatpak-1_0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1
- flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2
- flatpak-devel as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2
- flatpak-zsh-completion as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2
- libflatpak0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2
- system-user-flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2
- typelib-1_0-Flatpak-1_0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2
- flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3
- flatpak-devel as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3
- flatpak-zsh-completion as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3
- libflatpak0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3
- system-user-flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3
- typelib-1_0-Flatpak-1_0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3
- flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS
- flatpak-devel as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS
- flatpak-zsh-completion as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS
- and 201 more
- Fixed
- No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
- Action
- No verified patch reference is present in the current structured sources. Check the vendor advisory before making a change.
- Workaround
- No verified workaround is recorded. Limit untrusted access and use least privilege until authoritative guidance is available.
Official vendor articles1 stored document
Linked articles are downloaded and versioned as source evidence. A CVE mention or approved update relationship does not, by itself, verify a fix for every product branch.
- CVE-2026-96281 Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures | SUSE →Original publisher ↗Searchable text snapshot · Captured 27 Sep 2026CVE-2026-96281 Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures [Previous] [Index] [Next] Upstream information CVE-2026-96281 at MITRE Description SUSE information Overall state of this security issue: Pending This issue is currently rated as having low severity. CVSS v3 Scores CVSS detail SUSE Base Score 3.3 Vector CVSS:3.1
04
Evidence and provenance
Published 27 Sept 2026 · Last source change 30 Sept 2026, 20:11 UTC · CWE-284 · Improper Access Control
CVE recordCVE.org · 5.2
CVSS sourceCNA
EPSS source FIRST · tracked since 2026-09-28
?
The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2026-88027
Product sourceVendor CSAF · SUSE Product Security Team
Remediation sourceVendor CSAF · Red Hat Product Security
CWE sourceCNA
NVD statusNVD awaiting enrichment
Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.
Material change intelligence
View recent updates ↗What changed after publication
- ENISA EUVD mappingEUVD-2026-88027 was added to the official ENISA EUVD mapping for this CVE.ENISA EUVD ↗
- Before
- not recorded
- After
- {"euvdId":"EUVD-2026-88027"}
- SeveritySeverity changed from Unknown to Medium.CNA ↗
- Before
- Unknown
- After
- Medium
- CVSS scoreCVSS score changed from not recorded to 6.2 (CVSS 3.1 · CNA · CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).CNA ↗
- Before
- not recorded
- After
- 6.2 (CVSS 3.1 · CNA · CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)
- Vendor guidanceAuthoritative vendor guidance changed: removed remediation: suse.com/CVE-2026-96281; removed vendor advisory: suse.com/CVE-2026-96281.CNA ↗
- Before
- remediation: suse.com/CVE-2026-96281 · vendor advisory: suse.com/CVE-2026-96281
- After
- no authoritative guidance recorded
- Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.CNA ↗
- Before
- flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7; flatpak-devel as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7; flatpak-remote-flathub as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7; flatpak-zsh-completion as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7; libflatpak0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7; system-user-flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7; typelib-1_0-Flatpak-1_0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7; flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 12 SP5; libflatpak0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 12 SP5; typelib-1_0-Flatpak-1_0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 12 SP5; flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1; flatpak-devel as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1; flatpak-zsh-completion as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1; libflatpak0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1; typelib-1_0-Flatpak-1_0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1; flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2; flatpak-devel as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2; flatpak-zsh-completion as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2; libflatpak0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2; system-user-flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2; typelib-1_0-Flatpak-1_0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2; flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3; flatpak-devel as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3; flatpak-zsh-completion as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3; libflatpak0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3; system-user-flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3; typelib-1_0-Flatpak-1_0 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3; flatpak as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS; flatpak-devel as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS; flatpak-zsh-completion as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS; and 201 more · Fixed: No fixed product state is explicitly recorded in the vendor advisory.
- After
- See the vendor and CVE records for the affected range. · Fixed: No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
- Catalogue recordCVE added to the BlackTree catalogue.Authoritative vendor CSAF advisory ↗
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
- CVE
- Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
- CVSS
- Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
- EPSS
- Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
- CWE
- Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
- CNA
- CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
- CISA ADP
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
- NVD
- National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
- CERT / CSIRT
- A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
- PoC
- Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
- CSAF
- Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
- LoTL
- Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.