Rarlab WinRAR path traversal

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Rarlab WinRAR. This issue affects some unknown processing. Executing a manipulation can lead to path traversal. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2025-6218. The attack can be launched remotely. Moreover, an exploit is present. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Rarlab WinRAR (the affected version unknown). This vulnerability affects an unknown part. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a path traversal vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-22. The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

RARLAB WinRAR Directory Traversal Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of RARLAB WinRAR. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the handling of file paths within archive files. A crafted file path can cause the process to traverse to unintended directories. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current user. Was ZDI-CAN-27198.

The advisory is shared for download at zerodayinitiative.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-6218 since 06/17/2025. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. Technical details are unknown but an exploit is available. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1006.

It is declared as attacked. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 242073 (RARLAB WinRAR < 7.12 Beta 1 Directory Traversal Remote Code Execution (CVE-2025-6218)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. This issue was added on 12/09/2025 to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog with a due date of 12/30/2025:

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (242073) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-1375). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• win.rar WinRAR

Productinfo

Type

• File Compression Software

Vendor

• Rarlab

Name

• WinRAR

CPE 2.3info

• 🔍

CPE 2.2info

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