CVEvulnerability
CVE-2023-38831
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability
RARLAB WinRAR Code Execution Vulnerability — RARLAB WinRAR
RARLAB WinRAR contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows an attacker to execute code when a user attempts to view a benign file within a ZIP archive.
- Added to KEV
- 2023-08-24
- Remediation due
- 2023-09-14
- Ransomware use
- Known
- Required action
- Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- Notes
- http://www.win-rar.com/singlenewsview.html?&L=0&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=232&cHash=c5bf79590657e32554c6683296a8e8aa; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38831
- Status
- Analyzed
- Published
- 2023-08-23
- Last modified
- 2026-08-05
- Assigner
- [email protected]
- CVSS 3.1 ([email protected])
- 7.8 HIGH — CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- CVSS 3.1 (134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0)
- 7.8 HIGH — CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Weaknesses
- CWE-345, CWE-351
Description
RARLAB WinRAR before 6.23 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code when a user attempts to view a benign file within a ZIP archive. The issue occurs because a ZIP archive may include a benign file (such as an ordinary .JPG file) and also a folder that has the same name as the benign file, and the contents of the folder (which may include executable content) are processed during an attempt to access only the benign file. This was exploited in the wild in April through October 2023.
Affected configurations
• rarlab winrar (< 6.23)
Related
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/174573/WinRAR-Remote-Code-Execution.html Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://blog.google/threat-analysis-group/government-backed-actors-exploiting-winrar-vulnerability/ Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37236100 Issue Tracking
- https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/winrar-zero-day-exploited-since-april-to-hack-trading-accounts/ Exploit, Press/Media Coverage, Third Party Advisory
- https://www.group-ib.com/blog/cve-2023-38831-winrar-zero-day/ Exploit, Press/Media Coverage, Third Party Advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/174573/WinRAR-Remote-Code-Execution.html Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://blog.google/threat-analysis-group/government-backed-actors-exploiting-winrar-vulnerability/ Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37236100 Issue Tracking
- https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/winrar-zero-day-exploited-since-april-to-hack-trading-accounts/ Exploit, Press/Media Coverage, Third Party Advisory
- https://www.group-ib.com/blog/cve-2023-38831-winrar-zero-day/ Exploit, Press/Media Coverage, Third Party Advisory
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-38831 US Government Resource