CVE-2018-6560 : What You Need to Know

Flatpak versions prior to 0.8.9, and 0.9.x and 0.10.x prior to 0.10.3 are vulnerable due to a discrepancy in whitespace handling in dbus-proxy/flatpak-proxy.c. Attackers can escape the sandbox by manipulating D-Bus messages.

Understanding CVE-2018-6560

Flatpak versions prior to 0.8.9, and 0.9.x and 0.10.x prior to 0.10.3 are affected by a vulnerability that allows attackers to break out of the sandbox.

What is CVE-2018-6560?

The vulnerability in Flatpak versions allows attackers to escape the sandbox by manipulating D-Bus messages sent to the host due to a discrepancy in whitespace handling.

The Impact of CVE-2018-6560

This vulnerability can be exploited by attackers to break out of the sandbox environment, potentially leading to unauthorized access and further compromise of the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-6560

Flatpak versions prior to 0.8.9, and 0.9.x and 0.10.x prior to 0.10.3 are susceptible to the following:

Vulnerability Description

Crafted D-Bus messages to the host can be used to break out of the sandbox due to inconsistent whitespace handling between the proxy and the daemon.

Affected Systems and Versions

Flatpak versions prior to 0.8.9
Flatpak 0.9.x and 0.10.x versions prior to 0.10.3

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the discrepancy in whitespace handling between the proxy and the daemon by manipulating D-Bus messages to escape the sandbox.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-6560, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Flatpak to version 0.8.9 or higher.
Apply patches provided by the vendor to mitigate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and dependencies to the latest versions.
Implement strong access controls and monitoring to detect unusual behavior.

Patching and Updates

Monitor vendor advisories for security patches and apply them promptly to secure the system.