CVE-2026-11386

CRITICAL

Ubuntu Pro Client - APT Source Injection to Root Code Execution

Title source: manual
STIX 2.1

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.

References (1)

Core 1
Core References

Scores

CVSS v3 9.0
EPSS 0.0034
EPSS Percentile 26.8%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation none
Automatable no
Technical Impact total

Details

CWE
CWE-20
Status published
Products (8)
Canonical/Ubuntu 14.04 LTS 19.7ubuntu0.1
Canonical/Ubuntu 16.04 LTS 37.1ubuntu0~16.04.1
Canonical/Ubuntu 18.04 LTS 37.1ubuntu0~18.04.1
Canonical/Ubuntu 20.04 LTS 37.1ubuntu0~20.04.1
Canonical/Ubuntu 22.04 LTS 37.2ubuntu~22.04.1
Canonical/Ubuntu 24.04 LTS 37.2ubuntu~24.04.1
Canonical/Ubuntu 26.04 LTS 37.2ubuntu0.1
Canonical/ubuntu-pro-client (ubuntu-advantage-tools) < 37.3
Published Jul 16, 2026
Tracked Since Jul 16, 2026