CVE-2020-12265Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Arbitrary file write via symlink path traversal

Published Apr 26, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Path traversal in decompress before 4.2.1 allows context-dependent attackers to write files outside the extraction directory. The extractFile path handling joins archive entry names to the output path and writes them without first resolving symlinks or enforcing containment. An application must pass an attacker-controlled archive to the library; crafted ../ entries or symlink chains can overwrite files writable by that process.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability2.12%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Path traversal in decompress before 4.2.1 allows context-dependent attackers to write files outside the extraction directory. The extractFile path handling joins archive entry names to the output path and writes them without first resolving symlinks or enforcing containment. An application must pass an attacker-controlled archive to the library; crafted ../ entries or symlink chains can overwrite files writable by that process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-12265
Published
Apr 26, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-59, CWE-22
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 26, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo