CVE-2025-45582: GNU Tar through 1.35 allows file overwrite via directory traversal in crafted TAR archives, with a certain two-step process. First, the victim must extract an archive that contains a ../ symlink to a critical directory. Second, the victim must extract an archive that contains a critical file, specified via a relative pathname that begins with the symlink name and ends with that critical file's name. Here, the extraction follows the symlink and overwrites the critical file. This b

mediumCVSS 4.1CVE-2025-45582

CSIRTS triage

vendor: GNU product: GNU Tar Path traversalaffected: through 1.35

What: Directory traversal via symlinks in crafted TAR archives allows file overwrite when archives are extracted in sequence.
Who is affected: Systems extracting untrusted TAR archives, especially in automated workflows or software distribution.
Urgency: Medium priority; exploitation requires a two-step attack but can overwrite arbitrary files on the system.
Action: Upgrade GNU Tar to a version that prevents directory traversal via symlinks or validates symlink targets during extraction.

AI-assisted analysis generated from the source advisory — verify against the original.

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Details

Source: Microsoft Security Response Center (INTL · vendor-psirt · site)
Severity: medium — CVSS 4.1
Published: 2026-08-06
Exploitation: Not in CISA KEV at last sync

Original advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-45582

Exploitation outlook

EPSS (FIRST.org) estimates each CVE’s probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — here is the CSIRTS.com read on those numbers.

Low exploitation riskCVE-2025-455820.43% 30-day exploitation probability — currently an unlikely target, but scores change as exploit code circulates. Riskier than 36% of all EPSS-scored CVEs.

Referenced CVEs

CVE	CSIRTS overview	External
CVE-2025-45582	coverage & exploitation status	NVD · CVE.org

Same CVEs, other sources

How other CERTs, PSIRTs and databases cover the vulnerabilities in this advisory.

medium[UPDATE] [medium] Xerox FreeFlow Print Server: Multiple vulnerabilities allow unspecified attackcert-bund
unknownUSN-8510-1: tar vulnerabilityubuntu
medium[UPDATE] [medium] Red Hat Enterprise Linux: Multiple vulnerabilitiescert-bund

Recent advisories for GNU Tar

A cluster of recent advisories against the same product widens the attack surface — attackers routinely chain freshly published CVEs on one product, so review these together.

medium[NEW] [UNPATCHED] [medium] GNU tar: Multiple vulnerabilities enable file manipulationcert-bund · 2026-08-10
unknownCVE-2026-66484: GNU cpio contains a Path Traversal vulnerability in its tar archive extraction functionality. …nvd · 2026-08-10
mediumCVE-2026-18477: A TOCTOU (Time-of-Check Time-of-Use) vulnerability in GNU tar's incremental dumpdir 'X' rename…nvd · 2026-08-03
mediumCVE-2026-18508: A flaw was found in GNU tar. When extracting an archive with the --one-top-level option, hardl…nvd · 2026-08-03
medium[UPDATE] [medium] GNU tar: Vulnerability allows bypassing of security measurescert-bund · 2026-07-23
mediumCVE-2026-53655: node-tar applies PAX size override to intermediary GNU long-name/long-link headers, causing ta…msrc · 2026-06-09