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Tar CVE-2026-24842

HIGH
Path Traversal (CWE-22)
2026-01-28 security-advisories@github.com GHSA-34x7-hfp2-rc4v
Path Traversal Node.js Tar Isaacs
8.2
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: github
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Craft malicious TAR archive with hardlink entries
  2. Delivery
    Upload or distribute TAR file
  3. Exploit
    Application extracts archive using vulnerable node-tar
  4. Execution
    Path resolution mismatch bypasses traversal checks
  5. Persist
    Hardlink created to arbitrary file outside directory
  6. Impact
    Attacker gains read access to sensitive files

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
CWE-22
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Path canonicalization, traversal prevention
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Discovery, Collection

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

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Exploitation Conditions

node-tar versions prior to 7.5.7 must be used to extract TAR archives. User interaction required: victim must initiate extraction of attacker-supplied TAR file containing specially crafted hardlink entries that exploit semantic differences between security validation and hardlink creation logic.
Impact

CVSS 8.2 (HIGH). Attack vector: Network. Complexity: Low. Privileges required: None. User interaction: Required. Public exploit/POC available.
Exploit ScenarioDerived

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to craft a malicious TAR archive that bypasses path traversal protections and creat.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 0.0% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 12, 2026

node-tar before version 7.5.7 contains a path traversal vulnerability where inconsistent path resolution between validation and execution logic allows attackers to bypass security checks and create hardlinks to arbitrary files outside the intended extraction directory. Public exploit code exists for this vulnerability, affecting Node.js applications that process untrusted TAR archives. An attacker can craft a malicious TAR file to write to sensitive locations on the system.

Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
v1 Mar 12, 2026 - 21:54 CVSS 8.2

node-tar,a Tar for Node.js, contains a vulnerability in versions prior to 7.5.7 where the security check for hardlink entries uses different path resolution semantics than the actual hardlink creation logic. [CVSS 8.2 HIGH]

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available — apply it immediately. Validate and sanitize file path inputs. Use allowlists. Restrict network access to the affected service where possible.

Affected Packages

npm tar fix: 7.5.7

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in npm

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

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Technical ContextAI · show details

Classified as CWE-22 (Path Traversal). Affects Tar. node-tar,a Tar for Node.js, contains a vulnerability in versions prior to 7.5.7 where the security check for hardlink entries uses different path resolution semantics than the actual hardlink creation logic. This mismatch allows an attacker to craft a malicious TAR archive that bypasses path traversal protections and creates hardlinks to arbitrary files outside the extraction directory. Version 7.5.7 contains a fix for the issue.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source

Vendor (github) PRIMARY 8.2 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:L/A:N
SUSE HIGH
Red Hat 8.2 HIGH

Primary rating from Vendor (github).

CVSS VectorVendor: github

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
Low
Availability
None

Lifecycle Timeline

3
PoC Detected
Feb 02, 2026 - 14:30 vuln.today
Public exploit code
Patch released
Feb 02, 2026 - 14:30 nvd
Patch available
CVE Published
Jan 28, 2026 - 01:16 nvd
HIGH 8.2

DescriptionCVE.org

node-tar,a Tar for Node.js, contains a vulnerability in versions prior to 7.5.7 where the security check for hardlink entries uses different path resolution semantics than the actual hardlink creation logic. This mismatch allows an attacker to craft a malicious TAR archive that bypasses path traversal protections and creates hardlinks to arbitrary files outside the extraction directory. Version 7.5.7 contains a fix for the issue.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

Node.js applications using node-tar versions before 7.5.7 are vulnerable to a path traversal attack through hardlink manipulation, allowing attackers to write files outside intended directories. This affects any organization running vulnerable versions of this widely-used archive extraction library, potentially compromising application integrity and enabling unauthorized data access or system compromise.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.0%
Top 96% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Data Quality
6 sources
Confidence: High
NVD CVE.org EPSS Vendor GitHub VulDB

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC Yes
EPSS 0.0%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
Poc
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact
High

Priority Score

61
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +41
PoC: +20
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Path Traversal HIGH

Path traversal exploits occur when applications use user-controlled input to construct file system paths without proper validation.

Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org

cpe:2.3:a:isaacs:tar:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*

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CVE-2021-37701 HIGH
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The npm package "tar" (aka node-tar) before versions 4.4.16, 5.0.8, and 6.1.7 has an arbitrary file creation/overwrite a
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Same weakness CWE-22 – Path Traversal

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CVE-2020-5902 CRITICAL POC
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CVE-2021-40444 HIGH POC
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CVE-2022-41352 CRITICAL POC
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CVE-2021-27065 HIGH POC
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CVE-2019-11510 CRITICAL POC
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Same technique Path Traversal

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CVE-2018-20250 HIGH POC
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CVE-2022-37042 CRITICAL POC
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CVE-2025-64446 CRITICAL POC
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Vendor StatusVendor

SUSE

Severity: High
Product Status
openSUSE Tumbleweed Fixed
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 12 Fixed
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 Fixed
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 Fixed
SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Web and Scripting 15 SP7 Fixed

References

Advisories & patches
PATCH https://github.com/isaacs/node-tar/commit/f4a7aa9bc3d717c987fdf1480ff7a64e87ffdb46 ADVISORY https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:2900 ADVISORY https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:5447 ADVISORY https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:6192 ADVISORY https://vuldb.com/?id.343156 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:18480 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:18868 REF https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:33371 REF https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-24842 REF https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2433645 REF https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-24842.json

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