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CVE-2023-38831

7.8 · HIGHActively Exploited

RARLAB WinRAR before 6.23 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code when a user attempts to view a benign file within a ZIP archive.

Published Aug 23, 2023CWE-345EPSS 99.81%

Overview

CVE-2023-38831 is a high-severity vulnerability. It was published on August 23, 2023 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH). This vulnerability is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, indicating active exploitation in the wild.

This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8, rated HIGH. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.

Technical description

RARLAB WinRAR before 6.23 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code when a user attempts to view a benign file within a ZIP archive. The issue occurs because a ZIP archive may include a benign file (such as an ordinary .JPG file) and also a folder that has the same name as the benign file, and the contents of the folder (which may include executable content) are processed during an attempt to access only the benign file. This was exploited in the wild in April through October 2023.

Remediation

Check the references section for vendor advisories, patches, and mitigation guidance. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

References

Refpacketstormsecurity.com/files/174573/WinRAR-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlRefblog.google/threat-analysis-group/government-backed-actors-exploiting-winrar-vulnerability/Refnews.ycombinator.com/item?id=37236100Refwww.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/winrar-zero-day-exploited-since-april-to-hack-trading-accounts/Refwww.group-ib.com/blog/cve-2023-38831-winrar-zero-day/Refpacketstormsecurity.com/files/174573/WinRAR-Remote-Code-Execution.htmlRefblog.google/threat-analysis-group/government-backed-actors-exploiting-winrar-vulnerability/Refnews.ycombinator.com/item?id=37236100Refwww.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/winrar-zero-day-exploited-since-april-to-hack-trading-accounts/Refwww.group-ib.com/blog/cve-2023-38831-winrar-zero-day/

How CyberStrike helps

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2023-38831?

CVE-2023-38831 is a high-severity vulnerability. It was published on August 23, 2023 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 (HIGH). This vulnerability is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, indicating active exploitation in the wild.

How severe is CVE-2023-38831?

This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8, rated HIGH. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.

How do I fix or remediate CVE-2023-38831?

Check the references section for vendor advisories, patches, and mitigation guidance. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2023-38831?

CyberStrike is an open-source, AI-augmented pentesting engine. Rather than flag a version number, it tests whether an issue like CVE-2023-38831 is actually reachable in your own applications and APIs, then verifies each finding before reporting it. That tells you if the weakness is a real, exploitable risk in your environment or a false positive you can safely deprioritize.

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