CVE-2022-36943Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Arbitrary file overwrite via symlink-following extraction

Published Jan 3, 2023 · Updated Apr 10, 2025

Path traversal in ZipArchive SSZipArchive 2.5.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to overwrite files through a malicious ZIP archive. The extractor creates an unsanitized symlink entry, then opens a same-named regular entry with fopen, which follows the link and writes its contents to the target. Exploitation requires an application to process attacker-supplied ZIP content, and writes occur with that application's filesystem permissions.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability0.81%
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 ZipArchive SSZipArchive 2.5.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to overwrite files through a malicious ZIP archive. The extractor creates an unsanitized symlink entry, then opens a same-named regular entry with fopen, which follows the link and writes its contents to the target. Exploitation requires an application to process attacker-supplied ZIP content, and writes occur with that application's filesystem permissions.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-36943
Published
Jan 3, 2023
Updated
Apr 10, 2025
Vendor
ZipArchive
Product
SSZipArchive
Classifications
CWE-59, CWE-22, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 3, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 10, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=2.5.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

ZipArchive · SSZipArchiveversion=unspecified <=2.5.3

Published CVSS scores

8.1CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
8.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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.

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

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 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')
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

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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