CVE-2020-36566Network attack vector

Arbitrary file overwrite via unchecked parent paths

Published Dec 27, 2022 · Updated Apr 11, 2025

Path traversal in tar-utils before 0.0.0-20201201191210-20a61371de5b allows attackers to write files outside the extraction directory. Extractor.outputPath splits an archive member path, removes its first element, and rebases the remainder without rejecting embedded .. elements. A consuming application must pass an attacker-controlled archive to Extractor.Extract; successful exploitation overwrites files writable by that process.

CVSS severity9.1
Critical
EPSS probability1.02%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in tar-utils before 0.0.0-20201201191210-20a61371de5b allows attackers to write files outside the extraction directory. Extractor.outputPath splits an archive member path, removes its first element, and rebases the remainder without rejecting embedded .. elements. A consuming application must pass an attacker-controlled archive to Extractor.Extract; successful exploitation overwrites files writable by that process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-36566
Published
Dec 27, 2022
Updated
Apr 11, 2025
Vendor
Jeromy Johnson
Product
tar-utils
Classifications
CWE-22
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 27, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 11, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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  1. Affected versionversion=0 <0.0.0-20201201191210-20a61371de5b

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Jeromy Johnson · tar-utilsversion=0 <0.0.0-20201201191210-20a61371de5b

Published CVSS scores

9.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
9.1CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H

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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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