# CVE-2026-59875: node-tar denial of service via NUL byte in PAX records

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-59875-node-tar-denial-of-service-via-nul-byte-in-pax-records  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-07-08. Updated: 2026-07-20  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-59875 · Severity: medium · CVSS 5.3 · Published 2026-07-08

A vulnerability in the node-tar library, which is widely used to extract compressed archive files, allows an attacker to crash the application by providing a specially crafted tarball. This occurs because the library fails to handle certain hidden characters (NUL bytes) in file paths, leading to an unrecoverable error that bypasses standard error-handling code. This can result in a denial-of-service, causing automated build pipelines, backup services, or web applications to stop functioning.

Technologies: [tar (npm)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/npm-tar). Vendors: [npm](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/npm).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-59875 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-59875 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-59875?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 5.3, published 8 July 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** tar (npm) SEMVER:introduced=0,fixed=7.5.17.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-59875?** Yes. tar (npm): upgrade to 7.5.17 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2026-59875 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a software library.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-59875?** Check whether you run tar (npm) 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.

## How to fix

- tar (npm): upgrade to 7.5.17 or later

  ```sh
  npm install tar@7.5.17
  ```


## Technical details

The node-tar library fails to sanitize NUL bytes in PAX ('x' typeflag) extended headers for 'path' and 'linkpath' records in `src/pax.ts`. When these unsanitized strings are passed to Node.js core file system functions like `fs.lstat()` or `fs.open()`, Node.js throws an `ERR_INVALID_ARG_VALUE` exception. Because this throw occurs within an internal async callback chain, it surfaces as an `uncaughtException` that terminates the process, bypassing user-level `try/catch` or `await` error handling. Additionally, this creates a parser differential (CWE-436) where other tools like GNU tar truncate at the NUL byte while node-tar retains the full string, potentially bypassing security validators. The issue is fixed in version 7.5.17.

## Affected products

- isaacs (node-tar) tar <= 7.5.16

## Identifiers

- CVE-2026-59875
- GHSA-gvwx-54wh-qm9j

## Timeline

- 2026-06-23: disclosed: Vulnerability verified against version 7.5.16
- 2026-06-25: advisory: GitHub Advisory published
- 2026-07-20: advisory: CVE published

## References

- [https://api.github.com/users/Kayiz-PT](https://api.github.com/users/Kayiz-PT)
- [https://github.com/Kayiz-PT](https://github.com/Kayiz-PT)
- [https://api.github.com/users/Kayiz-PT/gists%7B/gist_id%7D](https://api.github.com/users/Kayiz-PT/gists%7B/gist_id%7D)
- [https://api.github.com/users/Kayiz-PT/repos](https://api.github.com/users/Kayiz-PT/repos)
- [https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/74753555?v=4](https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/74753555?v=4)
- [https://api.github.com/users/Kayiz-PT/events%7B/privacy%7D](https://api.github.com/users/Kayiz-PT/events%7B/privacy%7D)

## Related threats

- [npm tar stack overflow in mapHas filter with long paths](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-73566-npm-tar-stack-overflow-in-maphas-filter-with-long-paths)
- [isaacs node-tar infinite loop in tar.replace](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-59874-isaacs-node-tar-infinite-loop-in-tar-replace)
- [isaacs node-tar Denial of Service via Gzip Bomb](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-59873-isaacs-node-tar-denial-of-service-via-gzip-bomb)
- [isaacs node-tar denial of service via PAX numeric path type confusion](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-59871-isaacs-node-tar-denial-of-service-via-pax-numeric-path-type)
- [isaacs node-tar interpretation conflict in PAX header parsing](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-53655-isaacs-node-tar-interpretation-conflict-in-pax-header-parsing)