Known exploited vulnerability
CVE-2025-8088
The short answer
CVE-2025-8088 affects win.rar GmbH WinRAR and is rated high (CVSS 8.4). CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-08-12: attackers are using it, so patch it first.
What it is
A path traversal vulnerability affecting the Windows version of WinRAR allows the attackers to execute arbitrary code by crafting malicious archive files. This vulnerability was exploited in the wild and was discovered by Anton Cherepanov, Peter Košinár, and Peter Strýček from ESET.
Weakness: CWE-35.
Severity
8.4 high
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Exploited (CISA KEV)
Yes, since Aug 12, 2025
Federal due date Sep 2, 2025
EPSS, next 30 days
94%
Higher than 100% of scored CVEs
How it can be exploited
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Active
- 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?&L=0&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=283&cHash=a64b4a8f662d3639dec8d65f47bc93c5 Release Notes
- arstechnica.com/security/2025/08/high-severity-winrar-0-day-exploited-for-weeks-by-2-groups/ Press/Media Coverage
- support.dtsearch.com/faq/dts0245.htm Third Party Advisory
- www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2025-8088-detect-winrar-zero-day Third Party Advisory
- www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/cve-2025-8088-mitigate-winrar-zero-day-using-srp-and-ifeo MitigationThird Party Advisory
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2025-8088 US Government Resource
- www.welivesecurity.com/en/eset-research/update-winrar-tools-now-romcom-and-others-exploiting-zero-day-vulnerability/#the-discovery-of-cve-2025-8088 Press/Media Coverage
Questions
Is CVE-2025-8088 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2025-8088 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-08-12, with a federal remediation due date of 2025-09-02. CISA lists it as used in ransomware campaigns.
How do I fix CVE-2025-8088?
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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