zip: Arbitrary file write outside the extraction directory, because ZipArchive::extract validates symlink targets lexically.

Exploitation

No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.

CVSS

7.4 · CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H

EPSS

• CVE-2026-115908: 0.43% estimated exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 37.60 (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-03). This is a model estimate, not proof of exploitation or customer exposure.

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Summary - Verified version: zip `9.0.0-pre3` - Affected versions: `7.2.0` and later - Precondition: The attacker knows (or can guess) the absolute path of the extraction destination The validation applied to symlinks is purely lexical. As a result, an attacker can write arbitrary files outside the extraction directory through a symlink. Exploitation requires the attacker to know (or guess) the absolute path of the destination, but this is realistic in practice: CI workspaces, `/opt/app`, a fixed Downloads path, and so on. > Impact extends further on Windows (verified on real hardware for both the separate-drive and UNC-share cases): > Because `simplified_components` discards the `Prefix` component, paths like `D:\ ` or a UNC path `\\attacker\share\ ` pass the `starts_with` check. > As a result, `outpath.push` gets replaced onto a different drive/remote share, so a single symlink is enough — no intermediate symlink chain is required. > That said, creating a…

Published by the source

29 Oct 2026, 16:40 UTC

Last modified by the source

29 Oct 2026, 17:00 UTC

Source last checked

30 Oct 2026, 07:10 UTC

1. Revision 2 · amended · 30 Oct 2026

   Amended from osv record GHSA-hjqx-j4rw-g7xv

2. Revision 1 · created · 29 Oct 2026

   Published from ghsa record GHSA-hjqx-j4rw-g7xv

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# Patch Next advisory brief: CVE-2026-115908

Advisory: zip: Arbitrary file write outside the extraction directory, because ZipArchive::extract validates symlink targets lexically.
IDs: CVE-2026-115908, GHSA-hjqx-j4rw-g7xv
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/cve-2026-115908 (revision 2, source checked 30 Oct 2026, 07:10 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.4)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: zip 9.0.0. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- crates.io zip: affected >= 7.2.0, < 9.0.0; fixed in 9.0.0

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- crates.io zip: check the installed version with your package manager.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on zip.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-hjqx-j4rw-g7xv (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-hjqx-j4rw-g7xv lists affected ranges: crates.io zip >=7.2.0 <9.0.0)
- Verified: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-hjqx-j4rw-g7xv (OSV record GHSA-hjqx-j4rw-g7xv lists affected ranges: crates.io zip >=7.2.0 <9.0.0 (fixed))

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