# CVE-2025-6218: RARLAB WinRAR path traversal and remote code execution

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-6218-rarlab-winrar-path-traversal-and-remote-code-execution  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2025-12-09. Updated: 2026-05-15  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2025-6218 · Severity: critical · CVSS 7.8 · Exploited in the wild · Published 2025-12-09

WinRAR is a widely used file compression and archiving utility. A security flaw allows attackers to execute malicious code on a user's computer if the user opens a specially crafted archive file or visits a malicious webpage. This vulnerability has been observed being used in active attacks, potentially leading to full system compromise or data theft in the context of the logged-in user.

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

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2025-6218 exploited in the wild?** Yes. CVE-2025-6218 is known to be exploited in the wild, first recorded on 9 December 2025. Treat it as urgent.

**How severe is CVE-2025-6218?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 9 December 2025.

**Which products and versions are affected?** RARLAB WinRAR up to (excluding) 7.12.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2025-6218?** 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-2025-6218 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a network appliance.

**Am I affected by CVE-2025-6218?** Check whether you run RARLAB WinRAR at an affected version. 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.

## Technical details

A directory traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) exists in RARLAB WinRAR due to improper handling of file paths within archive files. By crafting an archive with malicious path sequences, an attacker can cause the application to write files to unintended directories during extraction. Exploitation requires user interaction, such as opening a malicious archive file. Successful exploitation allows for remote code execution in the security context of the current user. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2025-6218 and has been added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. The issue is addressed in WinRAR version 7.12.

## Affected products

- RARLAB WinRAR up to (excluding) 7.12

## Timeline

- 2025-06-20: disclosed: Initial disclosure by Zero Day Initiative
- 2025-12-09: kev added: Added to CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
- 2025-12-09: exploited: Confirmed active exploitation in the wild

## Related threats

- [RARLAB WinRAR and UnRAR heap overflow in RAR5 recovery-volume parser](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-14191-rarlab-winrar-and-unrar-heap-overflow-in-rar5-recovery-volume)
- [RARLAB WinRAR denial of service via malformed language file](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2019-25677-rarlab-winrar-denial-of-service-via-malformed-language-file)
- [Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the generate report functionality in Rarlab WinRAR 7.11, allows attackers…](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-52331-cross-site-scripting-xss-vulnerability-in-the-generate-report)
- [RARLAB WinRAR path traversal](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2025-8088-rarlab-winrar-path-traversal)
- [RARLAB WinRAR Code Execution Vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-38831-rarlab-winrar-code-execution-vulnerability)