CVE-2018-20250
HighExploitedPublic exploitIn WinRAR versions prior to and including 5.61, There is path traversal vulnerability when crafting the filename field of the ACE format (in UNACEV2.dll).
Published Feb 5, 2019 · Updated Aug 13, 2026
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2018-20250 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 7.8 v3.1) affecting WinRAR (Rarlab).
- It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Feb 28, 2019 and is known to be used in ransomware campaigns. Public exploit code is available.
- EPSS estimates a 96% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including WinRAR <=5.61, WinRAR 5.61.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
CVSS v3.1
7.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
96%
Higher than 99.8% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
Yes
4 catalog listings, used by ransomware
Public exploit code
Available
Proof-of-concept or weaponized module
Get the full CVE-2018-20250 brief as a PDF
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Description
In WinRAR versions prior to and including 5.61, There is path traversal vulnerability when crafting the filename field of the ACE format (in UNACEV2.dll). When the filename field is manipulated with specific patterns, the destination (extraction) folder is ignored, thus treating the filename as an absolute path.
Known-Exploited Catalog Listings
| Catalog | Added | Remediation due | Ransomware use |
|---|---|---|---|
| CISA KEV | Feb 15, 2022 | Aug 15, 2022 | Known |
| Industry KEV feed | Feb 28, 2019 | Aug 15, 2022 | Known |
| CIRCL KEV | Feb 15, 2022 | Aug 15, 2022 | Known |
| ENISA EUVD | Feb 15, 2022 | n/a | Not reported |
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Affected Products
2 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| WinRARRarlab | >= All versions prior and including 5.61 | 5.61 |
Patched Releases
WinRAR
<=5.61
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
Feb 5, 2019
Added to Industry KEV feed
Feb 28, 2019
Added to CISA KEV
Feb 15, 2022
Added to CIRCL KEV
Feb 15, 2022
Added to ENISA EUVD
Feb 15, 2022
Last updated
Aug 13, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
- CWE-36 Absolute Path Traversal
References
- advisoryhttp://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/windows/fileformat/winrar_ace
- advisory106948
- exploithttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152618/RARLAB-WinRAR-ACE-Format-Input-Validation-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- exploitVulnCheck exploitation report
- exploithttps://github.com/blau72/CVE-2018-20250-WinRAR-ACE
FAQ
Common Questions.
In WinRAR versions prior to and including 5.61, There is path traversal vulnerability when crafting the filename field of the ACE format (in UNACEV2.dll).
Affected: WinRAR (Rarlab) versions >= All versions prior and including 5.61. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Feb 28, 2019 and is known to be used in ransomware campaigns.
Yes. It was added on Feb 15, 2022 with a federal remediation due date of Aug 15, 2022.
Public exploit code is available.
Fixed versions are available, including WinRAR <=5.61, WinRAR 5.61.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.
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