CVE-2023-39136 in ZipArchive
Summary
by MITRE • 08/31/2023
An unhandled edge case in the component _sanitizedPath of ZipArchive v2.5.4 allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via a crafted zip file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-39136 resides within the ZipArchive library version 2.5.4, specifically within the _sanitizedPath component that handles path sanitization operations. This flaw represents a classic case of inadequate error handling that can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt service availability. The vulnerability manifests when the library encounters a specially crafted zip file that triggers an unhandled edge case during the path sanitization process, leading to a denial of service condition that affects applications relying on this library for zip file processing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and error handling within the _sanitizedPath function. When processing malformed zip archives, particularly those containing unusual or crafted path structures, the function fails to properly handle certain edge cases that should be gracefully managed. This results in the application throwing an unhandled exception or entering an unstable state that ultimately terminates the processing operation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-457, which addresses the use of uninitialized variables or improper error handling in software components, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should prevent such conditions from occurring in production systems.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for applications that process user-uploaded zip files or handle zip archive operations as part of their core functionality. Systems utilizing ZipArchive v2.5.4 become susceptible to targeted denial of service attacks where adversaries can upload malicious zip files designed to trigger the specific edge case, causing the application to crash or become unresponsive. This affects not only individual application availability but can also impact broader service availability if multiple applications rely on the same vulnerable library instance. The attack surface extends to any system processing zip files including web applications, file upload systems, backup solutions, and automated processing pipelines.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to the latest version of ZipArchive where the vulnerability has been patched, applying the relevant security update from the maintainers, and implementing additional input validation layers at the application level. Network-level defenses such as rate limiting and file type validation can provide additional protection against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper error handling and input validation in security-critical components, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring and alerting for unusual application behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar edge case scenarios that could lead to similar service disruption conditions.