# zip ZipArchive::extract symlink target validation bypass

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/rustsec-2026-0368-zip-ziparchive-extract-creates-symbolic-links-whose-26abc2ef  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-09. Updated: 2026-10-18  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

Severity: info · Published 2026-10-09

The zip library's extract function fails to validate the targets of symbolic links within archives, allowing an attacker to create a symlink pointing outside the intended extraction directory. When an application extracts a malicious archive and then reads or writes through the extracted symlink, it may access files outside the extraction directory with the application's privileges, risking data exposure or modification.

Technologies: [zip (crates.io)](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/zip), [Zip-Rs Zip](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/zip-rs-zip). Vendors: [crates.io](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/crates-io), [Zip-Rs](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/zip-rs).

## Quick answers

**Is This vulnerability exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of This vulnerability being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is This vulnerability?** Informational severity, published 9 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** zip (crates.io) SEMVER:introduced=0.0.0-0,fixed=9.0.0; Zip-Rs Zip before 9.0.0.

**Is there a fix for This vulnerability?** Yes. zip (crates.io): upgrade to 9.0.0 or later. Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is This vulnerability attacked?** It is attacked over the network or with local access.

**Am I affected?** Check whether you run zip (crates.io) or Zip-Rs Zip 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

- zip (crates.io): upgrade to 9.0.0 or later

  ```sh
  cargo update -p zip
  ```


## Technical details

The ZipArchive::extract method validates only the output entry path but passes symlink target bytes directly to the platform symlink API without validation, allowing a malicious archive to create symlinks with attacker-controlled targets outside the destination directory. The vulnerability affects macOS and Linux; subsequent reads or writes through the extracted symlink entry access the external target with the extracting process's permissions.

## Affected products

- zip-rs zip before 9.0.0

## Identifiers

- GHSA-4v9h-p7m9-rh26
- RUSTSEC-2026-0368

## Timeline

- 2026-10-09: disclosed
- 2026-10-17: advisory
- 2026-10-09: patched: Fix available in version 9.0.0

## References

- [https://crates.io/crates/zip](https://crates.io/crates/zip)
- [https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2026-0368.html](https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2026-0368.html)

## Related threats

- [zip Rust library denial of service in symlink extraction](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-115909-zip-is-a-zip-library-for-rust-that-supports-reading-and-writing)
- [zip symlink escape vulnerability in extract](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-115908-zip-is-a-zip-library-for-rust-that-supports-reading-and-writing)
- [zip library capacity overflow in legacy decoders](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-115907-zip-is-a-zip-library-for-rust-that-supports-reading-and-writing)
- [zip library authentication bypass in AES entry reader](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-115906-zip-is-a-zip-library-for-rust-that-supports-reading-and-writing)
- [zip library path traversal via Central Directory mismatch](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-115905-zip-is-a-zip-library-for-rust-that-supports-reading-and-writing)