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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2026-42496: Archive::Tar versions before 3.08 for Perl extract symlinks with attacker controlled targets outside

Source GCVE Database

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Authoritative record:CVE-2026-42496· Critical 9.1

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.1 Critical : upgrade to 3.08 as a priority.

Data as of 10 Nov 2026, 16:36 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
9.1Critical
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.

Sources agree

CVSS scores by source
CISA-ADPCVSS 3.19.1
ADP (redhat-SADP)CVSS 3.18.2
Patch
Available – fixed in 3.08
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 26 May 2026

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponized: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq Mirage: no evidence on record.

    No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 10 Nov 2026.

What to do

Upgrade Archive::Tar and Archive-Tar to 3.08.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
Archive::TarArchive-TarAffected
  • <3.08
Fixed in
  • 3.08
CPANArchive-Tarpkg:cpan/Archive-TarOther threatsAffected
  • <3.08
Fixed in
  • 3.08

Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.

Description

Archive::Tar versions before 3.08 for Perl extract symlinks with attacker controlled targets outside the extraction directory. _make_special_file() passes the tar header's linkname to symlink() without validating it against absolute paths or .. segments. The secure-extract mode check that guards regular file extraction does not cover the symlink target. A subsequent open through the extracted name reads or writes the attacker chosen path.

References

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