CVE-2025-55188Public exploit

Arbitrary file write via unsafe symlink extraction

Published Aug 8, 2025 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Link-following in 7-Zip before 25.01 allows attackers to write arbitrary files when a user extracts a malicious archive. CArchiveExtractCallback::SetLink validates a calculated link path without accounting for hardlink aliasing or chained extraction-root symlinks, then extraction follows the resulting link outside the destination. Successful exploitation requires a link-capable archive and user extraction; Linux is directly affected, while Windows also requires symlink-creation capability, and the write can replace shell startup or SSH authorization files.

CVSS severity3.6
Low
EPSS probability0.69%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Link-following in 7-Zip before 25.01 allows attackers to write arbitrary files when a user extracts a malicious archive. CArchiveExtractCallback::SetLink validates a calculated link path without accounting for hardlink aliasing or chained extraction-root symlinks, then extraction follows the resulting link outside the destination. Successful exploitation requires a link-capable archive and user extraction; Linux is directly affected, while Windows also requires symlink-creation capability, and the write can replace shell startup or SSH authorization files.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-55188
Published
Aug 8, 2025
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
7-Zip
Product
7-Zip
Classifications
CWE-59, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 8, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 4, 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=0 <25.01

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

7-Zip · 7-Zipversion=0 <25.01

Published CVSS scores

3.6MITRECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-59Improper Link Resolution Before File Access ('Link Following')
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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