malcontent's archive extraction could write outside extraction directory
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and GitHub.
Summary
malcontent discovers supply-chain compromises through. context, differential analysis, and YARA. Starting in version 1.8.0 and prior to version 1.20.3, malcontent could be made to create symlinks outside the intended extraction directory when scanning a specially crafted tar or deb archive. The `handleSymlink` function received arguments in the wrong order, causing the symlink target to be used as the symlink location. Additionally, symlink targets were not validated to ensure they resolved within the extraction directory. Version 1.20.3 introduces fixes that swap handleSymlink arguments, validate symlink location, and validate symlink targets that resolve within an extraction directory.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| chainguard-dev | malcontent | 1.8.0 to before 1.20.3 | 1.20.3 | Patch available | CNA |
| — | github.com/chainguard-dev/malcontent (Go) | 1.8.0 to before 1.20.3 | 1.20.3 | Patch available | GHSA-923j-vrcg-hxwh |
- malcontent Vendorchainguard-dev Affected 1.8.0 to before 1.20.3 Fixed in 1.20.3 Patch available CNA
- github.com/chainguard-dev/malcontent (Go) Vendor— Affected 1.8.0 to before 1.20.3 Fixed in 1.20.3 Patch available GHSA-923j-vrcg-hxwh
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:chainguard:malcontent:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.8.0 to before 1.20.3 | Vulnerable | chainguard-dev |
- cpe:2.3:a:chainguard:malcontent:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.8.0 to before 1.20.3 Vulnerable ·chainguard-dev
Remediation
- Fix · CNA malcontent (chainguard-dev) Fixed in 1.20.3
- Fix · GHSA-923j-vrcg-hxwh github.com/chainguard-dev/malcontent (Go) Fixed in 1.20.3 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-24846
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-923j-vrcg-hxwh
References
Patch 2
Advisory 2
More chainguard-dev Malcontent vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-22681 malcontent's nested archive extraction failure can drop content from scan inputs CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
- TI-2026-20044 malcontent's OCI image scanning could expose registry credentials CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
Sources
- CVE-2026-24846 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-24846 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-923j-vrcg-hxwh · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences