CVE-2023-38831Known exploitationPublic exploit

Code execution via mismatched ZIP entry extraction

Published Aug 23, 2023 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Code execution in RARLAB WinRAR before 6.23 allows attackers to run arbitrary code when a user opens a crafted ZIP entry. During temporary expansion, prefix matching also extracts a same-named directory, while an unnormalized spaced path passed to ShellExecute triggers default-extension search and launches the concealed script. Execution requires a user to open the bait entry in the WinRAR interface; the payload then runs with that user's privileges and can compromise data or interrupt the host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability98.02%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code execution in RARLAB WinRAR before 6.23 allows attackers to run arbitrary code when a user opens a crafted ZIP entry. During temporary expansion, prefix matching also extracts a same-named directory, while an unnormalized spaced path passed to ShellExecute triggers default-extension search and launches the concealed script. Execution requires a user to open the bait entry in the WinRAR interface; the payload then runs with that user's privileges and can compromise data or interrupt the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38831
Published
Aug 23, 2023
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
RARLAB
Product
WinRAR
Classifications
CWE-345, CWE-351, T1203, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 1, 2023Exploitation reportedCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry
  2. Aug 23, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  3. Aug 5, 2026Record 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=0 <6.23

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

RARLAB · WinRARversion=0 <6.23

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NVDCVSS: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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-345Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity
CWE-351Insufficient Type Distinction
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
T1204.002Malicious File

Public exploit references

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

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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