CVE-2026-35465: securedrop-client Path Traversal — Fix

Description

SecureDrop Client is a desktop app for journalists to securely communicate with sources and handle submissions on the SecureDrop Workstation. In versions 0.17.4 and below, a compromised SecureDrop Server can achieve code execution on the Client's virtual machine (sd-app) by exploiting improper filename validation in gzip archive extraction, which permits absolute paths and enables overwriting critical files like the SQLite database. Exploitation requires prior compromise of the dedicated SecureDrop Server, which itself is hardened and only accessible via Tor hidden services. Despite the high attack complexity, the vulnerability is rated High severity due to its significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of decrypted source submissions. This issue is similar to CVE-2025-24888 but occurs through a different code path, and a more robust fix has been implemented in the replacement SecureDrop Inbox codebase. The issue has been fixed in version 0.17.5.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

7.5

HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0005

Probability of exploitation

0.17%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-36 CWE-36

CWE-73 CWE-73

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
freedom	securedrop-client	< 0.17.5

References

Advisories & Patches

https://github.com/freedomofpress/securedrop-client/commit/e518adaf897e7838467ccf9e1f28152ae6fe3655 https://github.com/freedomofpress/securedrop-client/security/advisories/GHSA-2jrc-x8fq-prvc

Other References

https://github.com/freedomofpress/securedrop-client/blob/8dc8bb6e307b13876d67f72d8a071202e2f39ab5/changelog.md?plain=1#L8

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-35465? +

SecureDrop Client is a desktop app for journalists to securely communicate with sources and handle submissions on the SecureDrop Workstation. In versions 0.17.4 and below, a compromised SecureDrop Server can achieve code execution on the Client's virtual machine (sd-app) by exploiting improper filename validation in gzip archive extraction, which permits absolute paths and enables overwriting critical files like the SQLite database. Exploitation requires prior compromise of the dedicated SecureDrop Server, which itself is hardened and only accessible via Tor hidden services. Despite the high attack complexity, the vulnerability is rated High severity due to its significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of decrypted source submissions. This issue is similar to CVE-2025-24888 but occurs through a different code path, and a more robust fix has been implemented in the replacement SecureDrop Inbox codebase. The issue has been fixed in version 0.17.5. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH).

How severe is CVE-2026-35465? +

CVE-2026-35465 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 7.5 out of 10, rated HIGH. This is a high-severity vulnerability that should be prioritized for patching. The EPSS score is 0.0005, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-35465? +

CVE-2026-35465 affects products from freedom, specifically: securedrop-client. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-35465? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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