CVE-2023-38831
Rarlab Winrar ≤ 6.23
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HSummary
CVE-2023-38831 is a high-severity Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity (CWE-345) vulnerability in Rarlab Winrar. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Mark-of-the-Web Bypass (T1553.005); ranked in the top 0.1% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
RARLAB WinRAR versions prior to 6.23 contain a path-handling flaw that permits arbitrary code execution. When a user opens or previews a seemingly benign file such as a .JPG inside a ZIP archive, the application also processes a folder that shares the same name as the file; any executable content placed inside that folder is executed with the privileges of the user. The vulnerability is tracked as CWE-345 and CWE-351 and carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8.
An attacker can deliver a crafted ZIP archive via email, download, or removable media. Once the recipient attempts to view the innocuous file, the hidden folder contents run automatically, granting the attacker remote code execution on the local system without further user interaction beyond opening the archive.
WinRAR 6.23 and subsequent releases correct the folder-name collision logic. Security advisories and vendor guidance therefore recommend immediate upgrade; organizations should also verify that older builds are removed from endpoints and build pipelines.
The issue was exploited in the wild from April through October 2023, including campaigns attributed to government-backed actors that targeted cryptocurrency trading accounts. The current EPSS of 0.9386, near its recorded peak of 0.9395, reflects sustained attacker interest after public disclosure.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-42604
Vulnerability Data
RARLAB WinRAR before 6.23 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code when a user attempts to view a benign file within a ZIP archive. The issue occurs because a ZIP archive may include a benign file (such as an ordinary .JPG…
more
file) and also a folder that has the same name as the benign file, and the contents of the folder (which may include executable content) are processed during an attempt to access only the benign file. This was exploited in the wild in April through October 2023.
- CWE(s)
- KEV Date Added
- 24 August 2023
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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- 8 hardening rules · 5 OS baselines
V3.5.5V1.5.3
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Directly requires independent verification of matching output before adverse decisions, mitigating insufficient authenticity checks on data from external sources.
Use of approved PKI certificates provides verifiable data authenticity and origin for communications and artifacts.
Mandates provision of authenticity and integrity artifacts that enable verification of name/address resolution data.
Requires explicit verification of data authenticity from authoritative sources, preventing acceptance of unauthenticated resolution responses.
Control requires verification of data authenticity/integrity (e.g., checksums) after aggregation/packing, directly reducing exploitation of insufficient verification before transmission.
Time synchronization supports reliable freshness verification when checking data authenticity across systems or components.
Mandates verification of data authenticity for software, firmware, and information.
Provenance documentation and monitoring directly enables verification of authenticity for components and data throughout their history.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Secure SDLC practices directly prevent type-distinction flaws during development while the control addresses the full lifecycle.
CWE-345 directly impairs RC.RP-05's verification of restored-asset integrity/authenticity, largely defeating the outcome while still leaving other restoration-confirmation steps partially viable.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Security testing can detect missing or weak data authenticity verification.
Network controls can enforce authenticated channels, reducing risk of accepting unauthentic data.
Secure network services often include authenticity checks for data exchanged over those services.
Cryptographic mechanisms directly verify data origin and integrity, preventing acceptance of unauthentic data.
Secure SDLC incorporates authenticity verification requirements throughout development.
Application security requirements can mandate data authenticity verification mechanisms.
Hardening callouts derived
Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).
Oracle Linux 8 (2 rules)
- V-248574 YUM must be configured to prevent the installation of patches, service packs, device drivers, or OL 8 system components that have not been digitally signed using a certificate that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-345
- V-248575 OL 8 must prevent the installation of software, patches, service packs, device drivers, or operating system components of local packages without verification they have been digitally signed using a certificate that is issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-345
Oracle Linux 9 (1 rule)
- V-271525 OL 9 must have GPG signature verification enabled for all software repositories. prevents CWE-345
RHEL 7 (2 rules)
- V-204447 The Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system must prevent the installation of software, patches, service packs, device drivers, or operating system components from a repository without verification they have been digitally signed using a certificate that is issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-345
- V-204448 The Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system must prevent the installation of software, patches, service packs, device drivers, or operating system components of local packages without verification they have been digitally signed using a certificate that is issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-345
RHEL 8 (2 rules)
- V-230264 RHEL 8 must prevent the installation of software, patches, service packs, device drivers, or operating system components from a repository without verification they have been digitally signed using a certificate that is issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-345
- V-230265 RHEL 8 must prevent the installation of software, patches, service packs, device drivers, or operating system components of local packages without verification they have been digitally signed using a certificate that is issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-345
RHEL 9 (1 rule)
- V-257822 RHEL 9 must have GPG signature verification enabled for all software repositories. prevents CWE-345