Link following in libarchive
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 2 fixed, 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
An improper link resolution flaw while extracting an archive can lead to changing the access control list (ACL) of the target of the link. An attacker may provide a malicious archive to a victim user, who would trigger this flaw when trying to extract the archive. A local attacker may use this flaw to change the ACL of a file on the system and gain more privileges.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | libarchive | Fixed in libarchive 3.5.2 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- libarchive Vendor— Affected Fixed in libarchive 3.5.2 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 19
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:libarchive:libarchive:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 3.5.2 | Vulnerable | libarchive |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:35:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 35 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
- cpe:2.3:a:libarchive:libarchive:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 3.5.2 Vulnerable ·libarchive
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:35:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 35 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Show 9 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.6 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.6 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.6 | Running on | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:codeready_linux_builder:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.6 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.6 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.6 Running on ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2022:0892 Released 2022-03-15 · Red Hat rating Moderatelibarchive security update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) libarchive-devel-3.3.3-3.el8_5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bsdtar-3.3.3-3.el8_5, libarchive-3.3.3-3.el8_5
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:0892 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2022:0892 |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-23177
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-fq9q-7wp8-gpr7
References
Patch 3
Sources
- CVE-2021-23177 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-23177 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-fq9q-7wp8-gpr7 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-23177 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences