CVE-2026-11386

ubuntu-pro-client Input Validation Vulnerability Leading to Arbitrary APT Directive Injection and Remote Code Execution

State
Published
Severity
9.0 Critical
Published
Jul 16, 2026
Updated
Jul 16, 2026
Reserved
Jun 5, 2026

Read the record on cve.org

Description

An input validation and injection vulnerability exists in Canonical ubuntu-pro-client (formerly ubuntu-advantage-tools). The client constructs APT source files (such as /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntu-.list or their DEB822 equivalents) using data received directly from the contract server response via the directives.suites[] and directives.aptURL fields. Because the client utilizes Python's str.format() to write these files without performing escaping, validation, or newline character filtering, a malicious or tampered contract response containing embedded newline (\n) characters can successfully inject arbitrary, attacker-controlled deb configuration lines into root-owned APT sources. When combined with the unvalidated additionalPackages[] field—which is passed positionally into a root-executed apt-get install command—an attacker capable of spoofing or manipulating the contract response (e.g., via a compromised internal infrastructure, an intercepted connection utilizing a trusted CA, or local logical bugs) can force the client to fetch and install malicious packages. This ultimately leads to arbitrary code execution with root privileges on the affected system. This component is preinstalled on supported Ubuntu Server releases and auto-attaches by default on cloud provider Ubuntu Pro images.

Scores

CVSSScoreVectorSource
3.19.0 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:Hcanonical

Weaknesses

  • CWE-20 Improper input validation

Affected Products

ProductVersions
ubuntu-pro-client (ubuntu-advantage-tools)Canonical
  • before 37.3Affected
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSCanonical
  • 37.2ubuntu0.1Not affected
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSCanonical
  • 37.2ubuntu~24.04.1Not affected
Ubuntu 22.04 LTSCanonical
  • 37.2ubuntu~22.04.1Not affected
Ubuntu 20.04 LTSCanonical
  • 37.1ubuntu0~20.04.1Not affected
Ubuntu 18.04 LTSCanonical
  • 37.1ubuntu0~18.04.1Not affected
Ubuntu 16.04 LTSCanonical
  • 37.1ubuntu0~16.04.1Not affected
Ubuntu 14.04 LTSCanonical
  • 19.7ubuntu0.1Not affected

References

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