GHSA-r628-mhmh-qjhw
HIGH
Arbitrary File Creation/Overwrite via insufficient symlink protection due to directory cache poisoning
Published August 3, 2021Updated February 4, 2026Source: osv
Details
### Impact
Arbitrary File Creation, Arbitrary File Overwrite, Arbitrary Code Execution
`node-tar` aims to guarantee that any file whose location would be modified by a symbolic link is not extracted. This is, in part, achieved by ensuring that extracted directories are not symlinks. Additionally, in order to prevent unnecessary `stat` calls to determine whether a given path is a directory, paths are cached when directories are created.
This logic was insufficient when extracting tar files that contained both a directory and a symlink with the same name as the directory. This order of operations resulted in the directory being created and added to the `node-tar` directory cache. When a directory is present in the directory cache, subsequent calls to mkdir for that directory are skipped. However, this is also where `node-tar` checks for symlinks occur.
By first creating a directory, and then replacing that directory with a symlink, it was thus possible to bypass `node-tar` symlink checks on directories, essentially allowing an untrusted tar file to symlink into an arbitrary location and subsequently extracting arbitrary files into that location, thus allowing arbitrary file creation and overwrite.
This issue was addressed in releases 3.2.3, 4.4.15, 5.0.7 and 6.1.2.
### Patches
3.2.3 || 4.4.15 || 5.0.7 || 6.1.2
### Workarounds
Users may work around this vulnerability without upgrading by creating a custom `filter` method which prevents the extraction of symbolic links.
```js
const tar = require('tar')
tar.x({
file: 'archive.tgz',
filter: (file, entry) => {
if (entry.type === 'SymbolicLink') {
return false
} else {
return true
}
}
})
```
Users are encouraged to upgrade to the latest patch versions, rather than attempt to sanitize tar input themselves.
Remediation
Upgrade to the fixed version using your package manager.
npm
Update tar to 3.2.3 or laternpm install tar@3.2.3
npm
Update tar to 5.0.7 or laternpm install tar@5.0.7
npm
Update tar to 4.4.15 or laternpm install tar@4.4.15
npm
Update tar to 6.1.2 or laternpm install tar@6.1.2
After upgrading, run your dependency scanner again to confirm the vulnerability is resolved.
Affected Packages (4)
Vulnerability Classification
Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) identifiers for this vulnerability type.
- CWE-22Path TraversalMITRE
- CWE-23
- CWE-59
CVSS Score Breakdown
What the CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) 3.1 score means for each attack dimension.
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
None
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
References
- https://github.com/npm/node-tar/security/advisories/GHSA-r628-mhmh-qjhwWEB
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-32803ADVISORY
- https://github.com/isaacs/node-tar/commit/46fe35083e2676e31c4e0a81639dce6da7aaa356WEB
- https://github.com/isaacs/node-tar/commit/5987d9a41f6bfbf1ddab1098e1fdcf1a5618f571WEB
- https://github.com/isaacs/node-tar/commit/85d3a942b4064e4ff171f91696fced7975167349WEB
- https://github.com/isaacs/node-tar/commit/9dbdeb6df8e9dbd96fa9e84341b9d74734be6c20WEB
- https://github.com/npm/node-tar/commit/9dbdeb6df8e9dbd96fa9e84341b9d74734be6c20WEB
- https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-389290.pdfWEB
- https://github.com/isaacs/node-tarPACKAGE
- https://www.npmjs.com/advisories/1771WEB
- https://www.npmjs.com/package/tarWEB
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuoct2021.htmlWEB
Risk Assessment
CVSS Score
3.1
Exploitation is difficult or impact is minor. Address in your next planned update.
EPSS Score (30-day exploit probability)
0.15%
Higher than 35% of vulnerabilities
Also Known As
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