CVE-2016-6321: gnu tar Path Traversal

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2016-6321 is a high (CVSS 7.5) Path Traversal vulnerability in gnu tar. EPSS estimates a 15.75% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 96.8% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.

Timeline

1. 09-12-2016
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 06-08-2025
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

Directory traversal vulnerability in the safer_name_suffix function in GNU tar 1.14 through 1.29 might allow remote attackers to bypass an intended protection mechanism and write to arbitrary files via vectors related to improper sanitization of the file_name parameter, aka POINTYFEATHER.

• CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.