---
id: "CVE-2026-92205"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-92205"]
title: "BusyBox: libarchive symlink traversal lets a file write outside the target directory"
severity: "medium"
cvss: 6.1
epss: 0.00314
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["busybox", "embedded", "infrastructure", "linux"]
not_affected_if: ["no-busybox-tar-unpack"]
published_at: "2026-10-21T18:17:31+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:29+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-25T04:03:26+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-92205", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:29+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-92205", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-24T13:15:54+00:00"}]
---

# BusyBox: libarchive symlink traversal lets a file write outside the target directory

BusyBox's libarchive component does not validate user-supplied paths before file operations, so a crafted archive can make BusyBox create files at locations outside the intended directory. An attacker gets arbitrary file creation in the context of the current user, and only after the victim opens a malicious file or visits a malicious page.

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

## How to check

- Run `busybox --help` on the host to confirm BusyBox is installed and read the version line
- unknown

## Fix

- unknown

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T21:57:29+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-92205
- 2026-10-24T13:15:54+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-92205

## From the sources

BusyBox libarchive Symlink Directory Traversal Arbitrary File Creation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to create arbitrary files on affected installations of BusyBox. 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 libarchive component. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of a user-supplied path prior to using it in file operations. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to create files in the context of the current user. Was ZDI-CAN-27556.

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