Description
Versions of add-apt-repository before 0.98.9.2, 0.96.24.32.14, 0.96.20.10, and 0.92.37.8ubuntu0.1~esm1, printed a PPA (personal package archive) description to the terminal as-is, which allowed PPA owners to provide ANSI terminal escapes to modify terminal contents in unexpected ways.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canonical | add-apt-repository | 0.98.9.* – < 0.98.9.2, 0.96.24.32.* – < 0.96.24.32.14, 0.96.20.* – < 0.96.20.10, 0.92.37.* – < 0.92.37.8ubuntu0.1~esm1 | 0.98.9.2 |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 12 | software-properties | No fix yet | — |
| Debian 9 | software-properties | 0.96.20.2-1+deb9u1 | DLA-2339-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | software-properties | 0.98.9.2 | USN-4457-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | software-properties | 0.96.24.32.14 | USN-4457-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | software-properties | 0.96.20.10 | USN-4457-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | software-properties | 0.92.37.8ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-4457-2 |
Advisories 3
- DLA-2339-1 software-properties - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-4457-1 software-properties vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- USN-4457-2 software-properties vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026