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Actively exploitedKnown ransomware use

CVE-2018-20250 WinRAR Absolute Path Traversal Vulnerability

WinRAR Absolute Path Traversal vulnerability leads to Remote Code Execution

From the CISA KEV catalogue version 2026.11.06, with Cybergen analysis. Updated 6 Nov 2026.

Our Assessment

Should You Worry?

Patch nowCybergen assessment
  • CISA confirmed exploitation in the wild and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 15 Feb 2022.
  • CISA lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
  • Rated High severity (CVSS 7.8, scored by CISA).
  • It has been in the catalogue for 1,725 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
The Vulnerability

What It Is

In WinRAR versions prior to and including 5.61, There is path traversal vulnerability when crafting the filename field of the ACE format (in UNACEV2.dll). When the filename field is manipulated with specific patterns, the destination (extraction) folder is ignored, thus treating the filename as an absolute path.

Affected Versions

ProductVersions
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. WinRARAll versions prior and including 5.61

From the public CVE record, as supplied by the vendor. Always confirm against the vendor advisory.

From Watch to Action

What To Do Now

  1. 1

    Find it

    Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for RARLAB WinRAR. Include cloud images, appliances and anything a supplier runs for you.

    Attack Surface Management
  2. 2

    Fix it

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

    Vulnerability Management
  3. 3

    Hunt for compromise

    If an affected system was reachable before you patched, assume it may have been hit. Check logs, new accounts, web shells and outbound connections from the date of exposure.

    Incident Response
  4. 4

    Prove it is fixed

    Rescan or test the system after patching. Upgrades that fail silently and forgotten secondary instances are common.

    Penetration Testing

Vendor Advisories

Regulation

The Compliance Clock

Cyber EssentialsRated high, so if it affects devices in your Cyber Essentials scope, the update must be installed within 14 days of the vendor releasing it.NIS2If exploitation causes a significant incident, essential and important entities owe their CSIRT an early warning within 24 hours and a notification within 72 hours.DORAFinancial entities must classify ICT incidents and send an initial notification for a major incident within strict deadlines, with exploited flaws a common cause.US federal (BOD 22-01)Federal civilian agencies had until 15 Aug 2022 to remediate. A sensible benchmark for everyone else.

General guidance, not legal advice. Your obligations depend on your sector, scope and jurisdiction.

Stay Ahead

More Exploited RARLAB Flaws

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CVE-2025-6218RARLAB WinRAR Path Traversal VulnerabilityAdded 9 Dec 2025CVE-2025-8088 · RansomwareRARLAB WinRAR Path Traversal VulnerabilityAdded 12 Aug 2025CVE-2023-38831 · RansomwareRARLAB WinRAR Code Execution VulnerabilityAdded 24 Aug 2023CVE-2022-30333 · RansomwareRARLAB UnRAR Directory Traversal VulnerabilityAdded 9 Aug 2022

All 5 exploited RARLAB vulnerabilities

Not Sure If You Are Exposed?

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Evidence

Sources

  1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
  2. NVD: CVE-2018-20250
  3. CVE record: CVE-2018-20250
  4. FIRST EPSS
  5. github.com/blau72/CVE-2018-20250-WinRAR-ACE
  6. research.checkpoint.com/extracting-code-execution-from-winrar/
  7. exploit-db.com/exploits/46552/
  8. securityfocus.com/bid/106948
  9. win-rar.com/whatsnew.html
  10. packetstormsecurity.com/files/152618/RARLAB-WinRAR-ACE-Format-Input-Validation-Remote-Code-Execution
  11. rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/windows/fileformat/winrar_ace
  12. exploit-db.com/exploits/46756/