Out-of-Bounds Read in Rarlab Unrar (CVE-2017-12941)
Summary
Vulnerability in Rarlab Unrar (CVE-2017-12941). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
libunrar.a in UnRAR before 5.5.7 has an out-of-bounds read in the Unpack::Unpack20 function.
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 weakness called CVE-2017-12941 was discovered in Rarlab Unrar.
Severity is Critical (CVSS 9.8/10). If exploited, attackers can fully take over the affected system.
What you should do: update the affected software to the latest version. If unsure, ask your IT team or search the vendor's site for "Rarlab Unrar CVE-2017-12941".
CVE-2017-12941 (Rarlab Unrar). Severity: Critical / CVSSv3 9.8. Category: CWE-125.
Response plan:
- Check the vendor advisory for affected versions and the patched release.
- If a vulnerable version is running in production, schedule maintenance (urgency from KEV/CVSS).
- If no patch yet, mitigate via WAF rule, disabling the affected feature, etc.
- Monitor logs / SIEM for known IOC and PoC signatures of this CVE.
PoCs and fix commits: see the 'References' section, MITRE, and NVD.
A weakness (CVE-2017-12941) in Rarlab Unrar. A serious software flaw has been identified.
Target versions of Rarlab Unrar (see vendor advisory). If running in production, identify exposure immediately.
Severity: Critical (CVSS 9.8/10). If exploited, attackers can fully take over the affected system.
Update to the patched release as listed in the vendor advisory. (Typical mitigation pattern for CWE-125)
If a patch is not yet available, consider disabling the affected feature, applying WAF rules, blocking via network ACLs, or isolating the vulnerable version.
Check version information, scan dependencies via SBOM, and monitor SIEM for IOC and PoC signatures related to this CVE.
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2017-12941 unrar-nonfree Fixed in: 1:5.5.8-1
References
- exploit seclists.org
- web kc.mcafee.com
- web security.gentoo.org