CVE-2021-3762Network attack vector

Arbitrary file overwrite via tar path traversal

Published Mar 3, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Path traversal in affected Red Hat ClairCore releases allows attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via a crafted container image. The RPM package scanner joins untrusted tar member and link names to its extraction root without forcing them beneath that root, so repeated parent-directory elements escape the scan directory. Exploitation requires an embedding service to scan an attacker-controlled image; a successful write can replace scanner-host files and lead to code execution.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability4.81%
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 affected Red Hat ClairCore releases allows attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via a crafted container image. The RPM package scanner joins untrusted tar member and link names to its extraction root without forcing them beneath that root, so repeated parent-directory elements escape the scan directory. Exploitation requires an embedding service to scan an attacker-controlled image; a successful write can replace scanner-host files and lead to code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-3762
Published
Mar 3, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Red Hat
Product
ClairCore
Classifications
CWE-22
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 3, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=Affects v0.4.6 and higher, v0.5.3 and higher | Fixedin claircore v0.4.8, v0.5.5.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Red Hat · ClairCoreversion=Affects v0.4.6 and higher, v0.5.3 and higher | Fixedin claircore v0.4.8, v0.5.5.

Published CVSS scores

9.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/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.

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 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.

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

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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