---
id: "CVE-2025-8088"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2025-8088"]
title: "A path traversal vulnerability affecting the Windows version of WinRAR allows the attackers to execute arbitrary\u2026"
severity: "high"
cvss: 8.8
epss: null
exploited: true
status: "open"
category: "other"
products: [{"name": "rarlab winrar", "fixed": ["7.13"], "affected": "< 7.13", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "dtsearch", "fixed": ["2023.01"], "affected": "< 2023.01", "ecosystem": "vendor"}, {"name": "RARLAB WinRAR", "fixed": [], "affected": "", "ecosystem": "vendor"}]
ecosystems: ["vendor"]
tags: ["desktop", "exploited", "other", "ransomware", "windows", "winrar"]
not_affected_if: ["no-winrar-installed", "non-windows-systems"]
published_at: "2025-08-08T12:15:29+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-24T00:09:50+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "kev", "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2025-8088", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00"}, {"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-8088", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00"}]
---

# A path traversal vulnerability affecting the Windows version of WinRAR allows the attackers to execute arbitrary…

WinRAR for Windows has a path traversal flaw that lets a crafted archive write files outside the folder chosen for extraction. An attacker who gets a user to open a malicious archive can drop and run code on that machine.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Affected

- vendor:rarlab winrar affected < 7.13 fixed 7.13
- vendor:dtsearch affected < 2023.01 fixed 2023.01
- vendor:RARLAB WinRAR affected ? fixed ?

## How to check

Check the installed WinRAR version under Help > About WinRAR on Windows machines.

## Fix

Update WinRAR to the vendor's patched release; the fixed version is not stated in the sources.
CISA says to apply vendor mitigations or discontinue use if mitigations are unavailable.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T19:11:51+00:00 kev https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=CVE-2025-8088
- 2026-10-23T22:29:05+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-8088

## From the sources

RARLAB WinRAR contains a path traversal vulnerability affecting the Windows version of WinRAR. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code by crafting malicious archive files.

CISA 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.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_