CVE-2007-4131: Directory traversal vulnerability in the contains_dot_dot function in src/names.c in GNU tar allows user-assisted remote attackers to…
Noroxi assessment
Priority: Monitor (action score 28/100)
- The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 2.7% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 86.3% of all records.
- Fixed version: tar (Debian:12) 1.18-2; tar (Debian:3.1) 1.14-2.4; tar (Debian:4.0) 1.16-2etch1.
Low priority for now. Upgrade to tar (Debian:12) 1.18-2; tar (Debian:3.1) 1.14-2.4; tar (Debian:4.0) 1.16-2etch1 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS
Directory traversal vulnerability in the contains_dot_dot function in src/names.c in GNU tar allows user-assisted remote attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via certain //.. (slash slash dot dot) sequences in directory symlinks in a TAR archive.
- Published
- Aug 24, 2007
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 2.7% · 86th percentile
- CWE
- —
Report tools
Action score
28
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 27 / 40 · 6.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 1 / 30 · 2.7%
Get told when this record changes
- Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
- No public exploit code on record
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
Is your version affected? Check itNoroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| gnu | tar | cpe:2.3:a:gnu:tar |
| redhat | enterprise linux | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux |
| redhat | enterprise linux desktop | cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop |
| rpath | rpath linux | cpe:2.3:o:rpath:rpath_linux |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- gnu tar1.13
- gnu tar1.13.11
- gnu tar1.13.14
- gnu tar1.13.16
- gnu tar1.13.17
- gnu tar1.13.18
- gnu tar1.13.19
- gnu tar1.13.25
+8 more rows
- gnu tar1.13.5
- gnu tar1.14
- gnu tar1.14.90
- gnu tar1.15
- gnu tar1.15.1
- gnu tar1.15.90
- gnu tar1.15.91
- gnu tar1.16
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | tar | before 1.18-2 | 1.18-2 |
| Debian:3.1 | tar | before 1.14-2.4 | 1.14-2.4 |
| Debian:4.0 | tar | before 1.16-2etch1 | 1.16-2etch1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | tar | before 0:1.14-12.5.1.RHEL4 | 0:1.14-12.5.1.RHEL4 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | tar-debuginfo | before 0:1.14-12.5.1.RHEL4 | 0:1.14-12.5.1.RHEL4 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | tar | before 2:1.15.1-23.0.1.el5 | 2:1.15.1-23.0.1.el5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | tar-debuginfo | before 2:1.15.1-23.0.1.el5 | 2:1.15.1-23.0.1.el5 |
Same product
gnu: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2005-2541Tar 1.15.1 does not properly warn the user when extracting setuid or setgid files, which may allow local users or remote attackers to gain…41Plan
- CVE-2016-6321Directory traversal vulnerability in the safer_name_suffix function in GNU tar 1.14 through 1.29 might allow remote attackers to bypass an…35Monitor
- CVE-2007-4476Buffer overflow in the safer_name_suffix function in GNU tar has unspecified attack vectors and impact, resulting in a "crashing stack."34Monitor
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2006-0300Feb 23, 2006 · Buffer overflow in tar 1.14 through 1.15.90 allows user-assisted attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) and possibly…22Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2006-6097Nov 24, 2006 · GNU tar 1.16 and 1.15.1, and possibly other versions, allows user-assisted attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via a tar file that…20Monitor
- Later →CVE-2018-20482Dec 26, 2018 · GNU Tar through 1.30, when --sparse is used, mishandles file shrinkage during read access, which allows local users to cause a denial of…18Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:tar | 1.18-2 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tar | 0:1.14-12.5.1.RHEL4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:tar-debuginfo | 0:1.14-12.5.1.RHEL4 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
Not on record for this CVE: EPSS history · patch commit or PR link · researcher credit · variant or chain candidate · public bounty program.
Technical details
Attack conditions
If successful
- Confidentiality
- P · data can be read
- Integrity
- P · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- P · the service can be disrupted
- Attack complexity
- M
- Confidentiality impact
- P
- Integrity impact
- P
- Availability impact
- P
Weakness class (CWE)
—
CVSS vector
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Change log (1)
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (19 more)Show less
- docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307179
- lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2007/Dec/msg00002.html
- secunia.com/advisories/26573
- secunia.com/advisories/26590
- secunia.com/advisories/26603
- secunia.com/advisories/26604
- secunia.com/advisories/26655
- secunia.com/advisories/26673
- secunia.com/advisories/26674
- secunia.com/advisories/26781
- secunia.com/advisories/26822
- secunia.com/advisories/26984
- secunia.com/advisories/27453
- secunia.com/advisories/27861
- secunia.com/advisories/28136
- secunia.com/advisories/28255
- security.FreeBSD.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-07:10.gtar.asc
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200709-09.xml
- sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-77-1021680.1-1
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.