CVE-2024-36052 in WinRAR
Summary
by MITRE • 05/21/2024
RARLAB WinRAR before 7.00, on Windows, allows attackers to spoof the screen output via ANSI escape sequences, a different issue than CVE-2024-33899.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-36052 affects RARLAB WinRAR versions prior to 7.00 on Windows operating systems, presenting a significant security risk through improper handling of screen output rendering. This issue specifically relates to the application's failure to properly sanitize or filter ANSI escape sequences when displaying information on screen, creating an avenue for attackers to manipulate the visual presentation of the software interface.
The technical flaw manifests in how WinRAR processes and displays text output on the screen, particularly when handling compressed archive contents that may contain maliciously crafted ANSI escape codes. These sequences, typically used for formatting text in terminal environments, can be exploited to alter the visual appearance of the application's user interface. Attackers can craft archive files containing carefully constructed escape sequences that, when processed by the vulnerable WinRAR version, cause the application to display misleading information or manipulate the screen output in ways that could deceive users.
This vulnerability operates under the broader category of input validation and output rendering issues, specifically aligning with CWE-116 which addresses improper encoding or handling of escape sequences. The flaw represents a form of visual deception attack where the attacker's goal is to manipulate the user's perception of the application's behavior, potentially leading to confusion about the actual state or contents of the archive being processed. Unlike CVE-2024-33899 which deals with different aspects of archive handling, this vulnerability focuses specifically on the presentation layer rather than the core extraction or parsing functionality.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-36052 extends beyond simple visual deception, as it could be leveraged as part of more sophisticated social engineering attacks. An attacker might craft archive files that, when opened with vulnerable WinRAR versions, display false information about file contents, archive status, or system messages. This could lead users to make incorrect decisions about their security practices or to trust malicious content within the archive. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where users frequently handle untrusted archive files, as it provides an additional attack vector that doesn't necessarily require exploitation of the underlying archive parsing logic.
From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic" and can be categorized under T1566 for "Phishing" when used in conjunction with deceptive screen presentations. The vulnerability could enable attackers to create more convincing phishing attempts or to obscure malicious content within legitimate-looking archive interfaces, making it harder for users to distinguish between genuine and malicious behavior.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrading to WinRAR version 7.00 or later, which includes proper sanitization of ANSI escape sequences in screen output rendering. Organizations should also implement security awareness training to help users recognize potential deception attempts and establish procedures for verifying archive contents through multiple means. Network administrators should monitor for suspicious archive files and consider implementing additional security controls such as sandboxing or automated analysis of archive contents before user interaction. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization across all application layers, not just core processing functions, as presentation layer flaws can provide significant attack surface for social engineering and deception attacks.