Zero-day vulnerability in WinRAR

Path traversal
CVE-2025-8088

Vulnerability details

Advisory: SB2025080901 - Path traversal leading to RCE in WinRAR

Vulnerable component: WinRAR

CVE-ID: CVE-2025-8088

CVSSv3 score: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:H/RL:O/RC:C

CWE-ID: CWE-22 - Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')

Description:

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to perform directory traversal attacks.

The vulnerability exists due to input validation error when processing directory traversal sequences inside archives. A remote attacker can trick the victim into opening  specially crafted archive and overwrite arbitrary files on the system, leading to remote code execution.

Note, the vulnerability is being actively exploited in the wild. 

External links:

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/winrar-zero-day-flaw-exploited-by-romcom-hackers-in-phishing-attacks/

https://www.win-rar.com/singlenewsview.html?&L=0&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=283&cHash=a64b4a8f662d3639dec8d65f47bc93c5

About zero-day vulnerabilities

Zero-day vulnerability is an undisclosed vulnerability in software that hackers can exploit to compromise computer programs, gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, penetrate networks, etc. We consider vulnerability a zero-day when there is no solution provided from software vendor and the vulnerability is being actively exploited by malicious actors.

Zero-day candidate is a potential zero-day vulnerability in software which might have been used in targeted attacks, however there is no evidence to support this suggestion.