Path traversal in PeaZip archive preview runs arbitrary programs
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Active
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-693.
Summary
PeaZip before 11.3.0 on Windows contains a path traversal flaw (CWE-22) in the execute function of its archive object viewer. The preview action runs the file path built from an archive entry name without checking for parent directory references, so a crafted entry can point to a program already on the system. An attacker who convinces a user to preview an entry in a crafted archive can run that program, and no warning dialog appears.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
Description from the CNA
Path Traversal (CWE-22) in the execute_obj function of the archive object viewer (peach.pas) in PeaZip 11.2.0 and earlier on Windows allows an attacker who convinces a victim to preview an entry of a crafted archive via the "Preview with... -> Associated application" action (Shift+Ctrl+O) to execute an arbitrary program already present on the victim's system, with no warning dialog. The function validates only outname (PeaZip's own temporary directory) with checkfiledirname, while the string actually executed is the concatenation outname+tempstring; tempstring is taken verbatim from the archive entry name (StringGridList.Cells[12,...]) and is never validated. checkfiledirname (list_utils.pas) rejects control and reserved characters in the file name but performs no ".." path-containment check, so an entry named ../../../../Windows/System32/calc.exe escapes the extraction directory and is passed to cp_open -> ShellExecuteW; the extracting backend (7-Zip) strips the traversal while the opener does not. In addition, the SECEXTCONST dangerous-extension confirmation prompt is implemented only in the double-click handler (grid_obj_open) and not on this preview route, so an executable inside an archive reaches ShellExecuteW unannounced, and where the prompt does fire it names the entry's display name rather than the resolved path that will run. Arbitrary code execution was demonstrated with a proof of concept against official PeaZip builds, confirmed on two archive formats (.zip and .tar) to show the defect is in PeaZip's own path handling and not in a single format parser.
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
Remediation
Update PeaZip to version 11.3.0, the fixed version.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-28
- Fix · CNA PeaZip (PeaZip) Fixed in 11.3.0
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
PeaZip 11.3.0
2 records Highest priority Priority LOW 2 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-74758 PeaZip runs programs from crafted archive entries without a promptPriority LOW 20
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-16 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-104025
- 2026-10-21 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-21 CVSS score added · Red Hat
References
More PeaZip vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-24020 In PeaZip through 10.4.0, there is a Mark-of-the-Web Bypass Vulnerability. CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2026-65418 Out-of-bounds write in PeaZip PEA extractor allows code execution via a crafted .pea archive CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.4
- TI-2026-67381 PeaZip before 11.3.0, in a non-default configuration, is vulnerable to OS command… CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.1
- TI-2023-06296 PeaZip Library dragdropfilesdll.dll uncontrolled search path CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2026-74758 PeaZip runs programs from crafted archive entries without a prompt CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 4.6
Sources
- CVE-2026-104025 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-104025 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- CVE-2026-104025 · 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