CVE-2026-42496

Summary

Archive::Tar versions before 3.08 for Perl extract symlinks with attacker controlled targets outside the extraction directory.

_make_special_file() passes the tar header's linkname to symlink() without validating it against absolute paths or .. segments. The secure-extract mode check that guards regular file extraction does not cover the symlink target.

A subsequent open through the extracted name reads or writes the attacker chosen path.

Affected Software

Weaknesses

• CWE-59: CWE-59 Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')

ADP Enrichment

CISA ADP Vulnrichment

• SSVC:
• Exploitation: none
  • Automatable: yes
  • Technical Impact: partial

perl-archive-tar: perl-archive-tar: Path traversal via crafted symlinks allows arbitrary file access

Additional References

• https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-42496
• https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2481314
• https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-42496.json
• https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:30857
• https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:30851
• https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:30856
• https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:30852

References

• https://github.com/jib/archive-tar-new/commit/17c873492a05eddc0de18c1485e0b2cccd5a9158.patch
• https://metacpan.org/release/BINGOS/Archive-Tar-3.08/changes
• https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-42497

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