CVE-2018-1002207 in Archiver
Summary
by MITRE
mholt/archiver golang package before e4ef56d48eb029648b0e895bb0b6a393ef0829c3 is vulnerable to directory traversal, allowing attackers to write to arbitrary files via a ../ (dot dot slash) in an archive entry that is mishandled during extraction. This vulnerability is also known as 'Zip-Slip'.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1002207 affects the mholt/archiver golang package, specifically prior to the commit e4ef56d48eb029648b0e895bb0b6a393ef0829c3. This represents a critical directory traversal flaw that enables attackers to manipulate file extraction processes and write files to arbitrary locations on the target system. The vulnerability operates through the exploitation of path traversal sequences, specifically the ../ (dot dot slash) pattern, which is commonly used in archive files to reference parent directories. When archive entries contain such sequences, the package fails to properly sanitize or validate these paths during the extraction process, leading to unauthorized file system modifications.
This vulnerability is widely recognized in the cybersecurity community as 'Zip-Slip' and falls under the CWE-22 category of Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory. The technical implementation flaw occurs at the path validation layer where the software does not adequately check or normalize file paths before writing extracted content to disk. The issue is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through various archive formats including zip, tar, and other compressed file types that support directory structures. Attackers can craft malicious archive files containing entries with path traversal sequences that, when processed by vulnerable applications, result in the creation or overwriting of files in unintended locations, potentially including system directories or sensitive areas of the file system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file system manipulation and can lead to severe security consequences including arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, and system compromise. When exploited in web applications or services that process user-uploaded archives, attackers can gain persistent access to systems by placing malicious files in critical locations such as system directories, web root folders, or configuration areas. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where automated processing of archives occurs, such as content management systems, backup solutions, or file upload handlers. The attack surface is broad as any application using the affected package for archive extraction becomes a potential target, making this a widespread concern across various software ecosystems that rely on Go-based archive handling libraries.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-1002207 involve multiple layers of defensive measures including immediate package updates to versions that address the vulnerability, implementing strict path validation mechanisms, and employing additional security controls during file extraction processes. Organizations should ensure all instances of the affected package are updated to versions that properly sanitize archive paths and implement checks against directory traversal sequences. The implementation of secure extraction practices such as canonicalizing paths, using chroot-like environments, or extracting files to dedicated temporary directories with restricted permissions can significantly reduce the risk. Additionally, security monitoring should include detection of suspicious file operations and unauthorized file system modifications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence through file system manipulation, making it particularly dangerous in environments where applications have elevated privileges during archive processing operations.