Path traversal in github.com/mholt/archiver/v3
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Low · High · Low
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub.
Summary
A Path Traversal "Zip Slip" vulnerability has been identified in mholt/archiver in Go. This vulnerability allows using a crafted ZIP file containing path traversal symlinks to create or overwrite files with the user's privileges or application utilizing the library. When using the archiver.Unarchive functionality with ZIP files, like this: archiver.Unarchive(zipFile, outputDir), A crafted ZIP file can be extracted in such a way that it writes files to the affected system with the same privileges as the application executing this vulnerable functionality. Consequently, sensitive files may be overwritten, potentially leading to privilege escalation, code execution, and other severe outcomes in some cases. It's worth noting that a similar vulnerability was found in TAR files (CVE-2024-0406). Although a fix was implemented, it hasn't been officially released, and the affected project has since been deprecated. The successor to mholt/archiver is a new project called mholt/archives, and its initial release (v0.1.0) removes the Unarchive() functionality.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| github.com/mholt/archiver/v3 | github.com/mholt/archiver/v3 | v3.0.0 – v3.5.1 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| — | github.com/mholt/archiver (Go) | up to 3.5.1 | — | No fix listed | GHSA-7vpp-9cxj-q8gv |
| — | github.com/mholt/archiver/v3 (Go) | up to 3.5.1 | — | No fix listed | GHSA-7vpp-9cxj-q8gv |
- github.com/mholt/archiver/v3 Vendorgithub.com/mholt/archiver/v3 Affected v3.0.0 – v3.5.1 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- github.com/mholt/archiver (Go) Vendor— Affected up to 3.5.1 Fixed in — No fix listed GHSA-7vpp-9cxj-q8gv
- github.com/mholt/archiver/v3 (Go) Vendor— Affected up to 3.5.1 Fixed in — No fix listed GHSA-7vpp-9cxj-q8gv
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 1 product
- OpenShift Serverless
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-3445
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-7vpp-9cxj-q8gv
References
Sources
- CVE-2025-3445 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-3445 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-7vpp-9cxj-q8gv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-3445 · 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