CVE-2014-9485 in minizip
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in the do_extract_currentfile function in miniunz.c in miniunzip in minizip before 1.1-5 might allow remote attackers to write to arbitrary files via a crafted entry in a ZIP archive.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9485 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the miniunz component of the minizip library, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.1-5. This issue resides in the do_extract_currentfile function within the miniunz.c source file, where the software fails to properly validate file paths during ZIP archive extraction operations. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to manipulate the extraction process and write files to arbitrary locations on the target system, potentially leading to unauthorized file system modifications and system compromise.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and path sanitization within the decompression logic. When processing ZIP archive entries, the vulnerable code does not adequately filter or sanitize file paths that may contain directory traversal sequences such as "../" or similar constructs. This allows malicious actors to craft specially formatted ZIP files containing entries with absolute or relative paths that bypass normal extraction boundaries. The flaw specifically manifests when the miniunz utility processes compressed files that contain path manipulation sequences, enabling attackers to write extracted content outside of the intended target directory.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant security implications for systems that utilize the minizip library for ZIP file processing. Attackers can exploit this weakness to overwrite critical system files, inject malicious code into existing applications, or create backdoor access points by placing files in system directories or application installation paths. The impact extends beyond simple file modification as it can potentially lead to privilege escalation, denial of service conditions, or complete system compromise depending on the target environment and the privileges of the user executing the extraction process. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in web applications, automated processing systems, and environments where untrusted ZIP archives are processed without proper security controls.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-22 Directory Traversal and aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter for executing malicious code, T1078 Valid Accounts for maintaining persistent access, and T1566 Phishing for initial compromise through malicious ZIP attachments. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to minizip version 1.1-5 or later, implementing proper file path validation in custom applications using the library, and establishing strict file extraction policies that limit write permissions for archive processing operations. Additional defensive measures should include network segmentation, monitoring for suspicious file extraction activities, and implementing application whitelisting to prevent execution of unauthorized code. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices in archive processing libraries and demonstrates how seemingly simple path validation issues can lead to severe security consequences across multiple attack vectors and operational domains.