Path Traversal in Rarlab Unrar (CVE-2017-12938)
Summary
Path traversal in Rarlab Unrar (CVE-2017-12938). Confidential information can be exposed externally.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
UnRAR before 5.5.7 allows remote attackers to bypass a directory-traversal protection mechanism via vectors involving a symlink to the . directory, a symlink to the .. directory, and a regular file.
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2017-12938 has been found in Rarlab Unrar.
Confidential information can be exposed externally. CVSS score: 7.5/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Rarlab Unrar CVE-2017-12938" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2017-12938 (Rarlab Unrar) — CWE-22 / CVSS v3 7.5
Attack vector: remote (network-reachable) / unauthenticated / no user interaction
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
Path traversal (CWE-22) exists in Rarlab Unrar.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Rarlab Unrar.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.5/10). Confidential information can be exposed externally.
Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Run grep -r 'Unrar' . against your dependency files (package-lock.json, requirements.txt, go.sum) to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
-
1Identify exposure identify
grep -r 'Unrar' . | grep -v node_modulesリポジトリと本番環境の依存ファイル (package-lock.json / requirements.txt / go.sum / Gemfile.lock 等) で
Unrarを grep し、稼働しているサービス・バージョンを把握する。 -
2Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2017-12938 unrar-nonfree Fixed in: 1:5.5.8-1
References
- exploit seclists.org