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Actively exploitedKnown ransomware use

CVE-2022-30333 RARLAB UnRAR Directory Traversal Vulnerability

RARLAB UnRAR on Linux and UNIX contains a directory traversal vulnerability, allowing an attacker to write to files during an extract (unpack) operation.

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 9 Aug 2022.
  • CISA lists it as known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
  • Rated Critical severity (CVSS 9.8, scored by CISA).
  • It has been in the catalogue for 1,550 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
The Vulnerability

What It Is

RARLAB UnRAR before 6.12 on Linux and UNIX allows directory traversal to write to files during an extract (aka unpack) operation, as demonstrated by creating a ~/.ssh/authorized_keys file. NOTE: WinRAR and Android RAR are unaffected.

From Watch to Action

What To Do Now

  1. 1

    Find it

    Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for RARLAB UnRAR. 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 critical, 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 30 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-2018-20250 · RansomwareWinRAR Absolute Path Traversal VulnerabilityAdded 15 Feb 2022

All 5 exploited RARLAB vulnerabilities

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Evidence

Sources

  1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
  2. NVD: CVE-2022-30333
  3. CVE record: CVE-2022-30333
  4. FIRST EPSS
  5. rarlab.com/rar_add.htm
  6. rarlab.com/rar/rarlinux-x32-612.tar.gz
  7. blog.sonarsource.com/zimbra-pre-auth-rce-via-unrar-0day/
  8. packetstormsecurity.com/files/167989/Zimbra-UnRAR-Path-Traversal.html
  9. lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/08/msg00022.html
  10. security.gentoo.org/glsa/202309-04