Known exploited vulnerability
CVE-2025-6218
The short answer
CVE-2025-6218 affects RARLAB WinRAR and is rated high (CVSS 7.8). CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-12-09: attackers are using it, so patch it first.
What it is
RARLAB WinRAR Directory Traversal Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of RARLAB WinRAR. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the handling of file paths within archive files. A crafted file path can cause the process to traverse to unintended directories. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current user. Was ZDI-CAN-27198.
Weakness: CWE-22.
Severity
7.8 high
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Exploited (CISA KEV)
Yes, since Dec 9, 2025
Federal due date Dec 30, 2025
EPSS, next 30 days
90%
Higher than 100% of scored CVEs
How it can be exploited
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
What CISA says to do
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Affected products
WinRAR. NVD's record lists the exact affected versions.
References
- www.win-rar.com/singlenewsview.html?&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=276&cHash=388885bd3908a40726f535c026f94eb6 Release Notes
- www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-25-409/ Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- foresiet.com/blog/apt-c-08-winrar-directory-traversal-exploit/ ExploitThird Party Advisory
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-6218 US Government Resource
- www.secpod.com/blog/archive-terror-dissecting-the-winrar-cve-2025-6218-exploit-apt-c-08s-stealth-move/ ExploitThird Party Advisory
Questions
Is CVE-2025-6218 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2025-6218 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-12-09, with a federal remediation due date of 2025-12-30.
How do I fix CVE-2025-6218?
CISA's required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
From NVD, CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS and OSV.dev, checked . Status on NVD: Analyzed. The description is NVD's text, quoted as published.
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