CVE-2018-20250 RARLAB WinRAR: file path flaw
In plain words: The program can be tricked into reading or writing files outside the folder it should stay in. Leaks files such as passwords and settings, or overwrites important ones.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Aug 15, 2022
What to do
- Install RARLAB's security update for WinRAR. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
- Never expose the device's admin page to the internet.
- After patching a device that was exposed, follow the vendor's compromise checks, end active sessions and change passwords.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: They face the internet and guard the whole network, so a flaw here can hand attackers a way in — and these devices usually run no antivirus, so break-ins go unnoticed.
The details
- Official name
- WinRAR Absolute Path Traversal Vulnerability
- Product
- RARLAB WinRAR
- CISA description
- WinRAR Absolute Path Traversal vulnerability leads to Remote Code Execution
- Type of flaw
- File path flaw (CWE-36)
- Confirmed exploited
- Feb 15, 2022 — known to be used in ransomware attacks
- US federal patch deadline
- Aug 15, 2022
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Answering about CVE-2018-20250 ·
Questions about CVE-2018-20250
Is CVE-2018-20250 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2018-20250 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Feb 15, 2022, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks, including by ransomware groups.
How do I fix CVE-2018-20250?
Install RARLAB's security update for WinRAR. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Patch edge devices first — attackers often start scanning for them within hours of a fix.
Am I affected by CVE-2018-20250?
Only if you use RARLAB WinRAR. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.