# CVE-2018-20250: WinRAR Absolute Path Traversal Vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2018-20250-winrar-absolute-path-traversal-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2022-02-15. Updated: 2026-05-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2018-20250 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2022-02-15

A path traversal vulnerability exists in WinRAR's UNACEV2.dll when processing the ACE archive format. By manipulating the filename field with specific patterns, an attacker can bypass the intended destination folder and treat the filename as an absolute path, potentially leading to remote code execution.

Technologies: [RARLAB WinRAR](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/winrar). Vendors: [RARLAB](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/rarlab).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2018-20250 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2018-20250 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 15 February 2022. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2018-20250?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 15 February 2022.

**Which products and versions are affected?** RARLAB WinRAR prior to and including 5.61.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2018-20250?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2018-20250 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2018-20250?** Check whether you run RARLAB WinRAR. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Affected products

- RARLAB WinRAR prior to and including 5.61

## Timeline

- 2019-02-05: disclosed: Initial discovery/disclosure by Check Point Research
- 2022-02-15: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog

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