GitHub Advisoryadvisory · crates.io
GHSA-xx64-wwv2-hcqq astral-tokio-tar: `unpack_in` can chmod arbitrary directories by following symlinks
LOW
Official page ↗
- Ecosystem
- crates.io
- Packages
- astral-tokio-tar
- Severity
- Low
- CVSS vector
- CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U
- Weaknesses
- CWE-61
- Reviewed
- 2026-05-06
Affected packages
• crates.io astral-tokio-tar: < 0.6.1 → fixed in 0.6.1
Description
Impact
In versions 0.6.0 and earlier of astral-tokio-tar, the `unpack_in` API could inadvertently modify the permissions of external (i.e. non-archive) directories outside of the archive. An attacker could use this to contrite a tar archive that maliciously changes directory permissions outside of its intended hierarchy. This flaw only affects directories; individual file permissions cannot be modified via it.
See GHSA-j4xf-2g29-59ph for the equivalent flaw in the `tar` crate.
Patches
Versions 0.6.1 and newer of astral-tokio-tar use `fs::symlink_metdata` rather than `fs::metadata`, avoiding the traversal.
Workarounds
Users are advised to upgrade to version 0.6.1 or newer to address this advisory.
Users should experience no breaking changes as a result of the patch above.
Resources
• GHSA-j4xf-2g29-59ph for the original `tar` vulnerability
Attribution
• Reporter: Adam Harvey (@lawngnome)
Related
Weakness · CWE (1)
- CWE-61 UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following weakness