CVE-2020-36193 PEAR Archive_Tar: 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 Sep 15, 2022
What to do
- Install PEAR's security update for Archive_Tar. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
- Patch anything in this catalog first, ahead of normal patch cycles.
- Put admin and file-transfer apps behind a VPN or single sign-on instead of the open internet.
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: Mass data theft and ransomware: a single flaw in a file-transfer or email server has exposed thousands of organisations at once.
The details
- Official name
- PEAR Archive_Tar Improper Link Resolution Vulnerability
- Product
- PEAR Archive_Tar
- CISA description
- PEAR Archive_Tar Tar.php allows write operations with directory traversal due to inadequate checking of symbolic links. PEAR stands for PHP Extension and Application Repository and it is an open-source framework and distribution system for reusable PHP components with known usage in third-party products such as Drupal Core and Red Hat Linux.
- Type of flaw
- File path flaw (CWE-22, CWE-59)
- Confirmed exploited
- Aug 25, 2022
- US federal patch deadline
- Sep 15, 2022
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Answering about CVE-2020-36193 ·
Questions about CVE-2020-36193
Is CVE-2020-36193 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2020-36193 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Aug 25, 2022, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.
How do I fix CVE-2020-36193?
Install PEAR's security update for Archive_Tar. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
Am I affected by CVE-2020-36193?
Only if you use PEAR Archive_Tar. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.