astral-tokio-tar has a PAX Header Desynchronization issue
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Fixed
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from GitHub.
Summary
### Impact Versions of astral-tokio-tar prior to 0.6.2 contain a PAX header interpretation bug that allows manipulated entries to be made selectively visible or invisible during extraction with astral-tokio-tar versus other tar implementations. An attacker could use this differential to smuggle unexpected files onto a victim's filesystem. ### Details When a tar stream contains multiple "header" entries prior to a file entry, astral-tokio-tar applies the PAX header (`x`) to the next entry in the stream, regardless of type. For example, a stream of `x -> L -> file` (PAX, GNU longname, file) would result in `x`'s extensions being applied to `L` rather than to `file`. [Per POSIX pax](https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9799919799/utilities/pax.html), this is incorrect: a PAX header always applies to a file entry, not any intermediary entries. See the "pax Header Block" section for the specific prescription there. As a result of this, an attacker can contrive a tar containing a sequence of tar headers such that astral-tokio-tar applies the PAX header's size extension to the next header in sequence, effectively desynchronizing the stream and enabling astral-tokio-tar specific skippage/extraction of members. In other words, a file can be contrived to extract differently on astral-tokio-tar than on other tar parsers. ### Patches Versions 0.6.2 and newer of astral-tokio-tar address this differential. ### Workarounds Users are advised to upgrade to version 0.6.1 or newer to address this advisory. There is no workaround other than upgrading. Users should experience no breaking changes as a result of the upgrade. ### Resources - GHSA-j5gw-2vrg-8fgx is a similar PAX desynchronization bug - GHSA-fp55-jw48-c537 is another similar PAX desynchronization bug
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | astral-tokio-tar (crates.io) | before 0.6.2 | 0.6.2 | Patch available | GHSA-3cv2-h65g-fgmm |
- astral-tokio-tar (crates.io) Vendor— Affected before 0.6.2 Fixed in 0.6.2 Patch available GHSA-3cv2-h65g-fgmm
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-3cv2-h65g-fgmm astral-tokio-tar (crates.io) Fixed in 0.6.2 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-03 Threatist record created from GHSA-3cv2-h65g-fgmm
References
Sources
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences