Description
Directory traversal vulnerability in the contains_dot_dot function in src/names.c in GNU tar allows user-assisted remote attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via certain //.. (slash slash dot dot) sequences in directory symlinks in a TAR archive.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | tar | 1.18-2 | — |
| Debian 13 | tar | 1.18-2 | — |
| Debian 12 | tar | 1.18-2 | — |
| Debian 4.0 | tar | 1.16-2etch1 | DSA-1438-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | tar | 1.14-2.4 | DSA-1438-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | tar | 2:1.15.1-23.0.1.el5 | RHSA-2007:0860 |
| RHEL 4 | tar | 1.14-12.5.1.RHEL4 | RHSA-2007:0860 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2007:0860 Red Hat Security Advisory: tar security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1438-1 tar Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 1018599 vdb-entry
- 1021680 vendor-advisory
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2007-383.htm
- 26673 third-party-advisory
- 26822 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2007-4238 vdb-entry
- TA07-352A third-party-advisory
- 26655 third-party-advisory
- 27453 third-party-advisory
- FEDORA-2007-2673 vendor-advisory
- 28136 third-party-advisory
- 26781 third-party-advisory
- http://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=251921
- DSA-1438 vendor-advisory
- 26590 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10420 vdb-entry signature
- 27861 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2007-2958 vdb-entry
- https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-1631
- MDKSA-2007:173 vendor-advisory
- FreeBSD-SA-07:10 vendor-advisory
- 26984 third-party-advisory
- 20070827 FLEA-2007-0049-1 tar mailing-list
- 2007-0026 vendor-advisory
- APPLE-SA-2007-12-17 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2007:018 vendor-advisory
- 26604 third-party-advisory
- USN-506-1 vendor-advisory
- 28255 third-party-advisory
- 26573 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2007:0860 vendor-advisory
- http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307179
- 26603 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:7779 vdb-entry signature
- 25417 vdb-entry
- GLSA-200709-09 vendor-advisory
- 20070825 rPSA-2007-0172-1 tar mailing-list
- 26674 third-party-advisory