CVE-2025-6218: RARLAB WinRAR Path Traversal Vulnerability

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2025-6218 is a high (CVSS 7.8) Path Traversal vulnerability in RARLAB WinRAR. It is known to be exploited: CISA lists it, first on 09-12-2025. EPSS estimates a 90.48% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 99.8% of scored vulnerabilities. 2 public exploits are recorded.

Timeline

1. 21-06-2025
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 09-12-2025
   Added to CISA KEVRARLAB WinRAR Path Traversal Vulnerability
3. 30-12-2025
   CISA remediation dueApply mitigations per vendor instructions.
4. 26-02-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

RARLAB WinRAR Directory Traversal Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of RARLAB WinRAR. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the handling of file paths within archive files. A crafted file path can cause the process to traverse to unintended directories. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current user. Was ZDI-CAN-27198.

• 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.